The Minister for Trade of the Eurasian Economic Commission Andrey Slepnev stressed this idea in his speech at the session "Transport Corridors North-South and East-West: development, export, integration" held as part of the Second Eurasian Congress. According to him, many new factors have appeared that can give impetus to developing the routes. Only container transit in China – EU direction increased by more than 60% in 2020 and continues to grow.

Andrey Slepnev recalled that the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Cholpon-Ata had recently adopted a digitalization road map for transport railway corridors. The primary activities are scheduled for the coming year, followed by the transition to complete digitalization of shipping, cargo and authorization documents. In addition to "homework", it is necessary to ensure full interaction with external partners within the EAEU. In particular, this issue will be discussed with China at the end of December as part of the Joint Committee created pursuant to the current agreement with China. "Despite the nuances of relations, the European side is also ready for cooperation in this respect: there are good results in the Finnish direction," Andrey Slepnev added.

In addition, the Minister highlighted work with the PRC to organize a "corridor of trust" so that "anti-Covid" policy measures do not affect the supply of agricultural products to the EAEU.

"The digital transport corridors that we are perfecting on the China – Europe route are attracting other players. I would draw attention to the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan to join the system as an observer state," Andrey Slepnev stated.

On the North – South part of the route, he noted the rapid progress in negotiating a full-scale trade agreement with Iran. One of the key topics in the agreement is transport – with access to India in the near future, as free trade is also being discussed with India.