Spain and Russia sign partnership agreement on transport and infrastructure

The aim of this agreement is to step up and boost multilateral cooperation, contributing to the extension and strengthening of bilateral relations in these areas. This collaboration may be carried out through the ministerial departments and the public companies comprising them.

In this regard, cooperation will be focused on air transport, rail transport, road transport and maritime transport; the planning, development and operation of airport infrastructures, air navigation, highways, railways and ports; the study of investment projects and the on-going exchange of information on such projects; the modernisation of transport infrastructures of the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Spain with the participation of transport companies and service providers; the ecologically-sustainable development of infrastructures and means of transport; the training and advancement of transport sector personnel; the application of smart transport systems and information technologies for infrastructures and means of transport; the development of transport corridors and international logistics, among others.

Railway cooperation

The Minister for Public Works received the First Deputy Minister for Transport of the Russian Federation on the occasion of the 8th Mixed Spain-Russia Inter-governmental Committee on Economic and Industrial Cooperation taking place in Madrid on 15 and 16 June.

At this meeting, Ana Pastor and Oleg Belozero tackled other issues of interest in relation to infrastructure and transport. On the issue of railway transport, the minister enquired after the Russian Government's plans on future high-speed lines following the initiation of the construction of the Moscow-Kazan line and expressed the interest of Spanish companies, such as Adif and Renfe, in the development of high-speed lines in Russia within the framework of the partnership agreements signed with the Russian railway operator, RZD and with the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering.

Highways

They also discussed the Ministry of Transport's plans for the highway network and new motorways being built for the 2018 Football World Cup, which has been awarded to Russia.

Air transport

As regards air transport passenger traffic, Ana Pastor expressed her satisfaction at the progress of air transport passenger traffic in the Spain-Russia market, which reflects an increasing trend over the last few years.