The government aims to turn Hungary into a key transit country for east-west transportation, state secretary for foreign affairs and external trade Peter Szijjarto said. Addressing the 22nd plenary session of the Coordinating Council on Trans-Siberian Transportation (CCTT), Mr Szijjarto said Hungary should intensify efforts in international cargo transport and make better use of its access links to the Trans-Siberian Railway. To attain this aim, three major resources should be utilised: Hungary’s geographical location and terrain, its advanced infrastructure and the government’s political commitment to developing the railway network, Mr Szijjarto said. He said the so-called V0 project, establishing a 113km double-track freight railway line south of Budapest will improve the current slow rail connection between the western and eastern boarders of Hungary. This, together with technical developments at the Zahony freight centre will be more competitive than building an extension to Ukraine’s broad-track railway lines, the state secretary said. President and CEO of Hungarian state railways MAV Ilona David and first vice-president of Russian Railways Aleksandr Misharin signed a letter of intent on cooperation which includes the development of a unified technology as well as the joint development of the Zahony rail freight centre.