ASEAN attaches importance to enhancing infrastructure and communications connectivity in the realization of the AEC. The AEC’s 11 priority sectors in regional integration include air travel and tourism. Furthermore, maritime cooperation has been included as an area of cooperation towards establishing an ASC.
ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) have reaffirmed that an efficient and integrated transport system was key for ASEAN to integrate with the global economy, improve competitiveness and enhance the inflow of foreign direct investment. They agreed to intensify regional activities to enhance multimodal transport linkages and interconnectivity, promote the seamless movement of peoples and goods, promote further liberalisation in the air and maritime transport services, and further improve integration and efficiency of transport services and the supporting logistics systems.
The ATM tasked their senior officials to prepare an updated transport cooperation plan for the period 2005-2010. The Ministers, in line with the ASEAN leaders' directive to accelerate the integration of the air travel and tourism sectors, also tasked their officials to develop a regional action plan for the staged and progressive implementation of open sky arrangement in ASEAN. The Ministers endorsed the Roadmap for ASEAN Competitive Air Services Policy, as the guiding principle for the phased and progressive liberalisation of regional air cargo and passenger services in the ASEAN region.
ASEAN is working towards the early operationalisation of the ASEAN goods in transit agreement using the ASEAN Minus X formula and the conclusion and signing of the remaining transport protocols and the ASEAN inter-state and multimodal transport agreements at the Tenth ATM Meeting. The Ministers agreed that the proposed Two Plus X formula could be a useful approach to speed up cooperation in the transport sector.
The Framework for Comprehensive Economic Partnership between ASEAN and Japan, signed in Bali in October 2003, called for cooperation in the area of transportation and logistics through efficient cargo transport system, safe and sustainable shipping and safe and efficient air transport. The ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action to implement the Tokyo Declaration for the Dynamic and Enduring ASEAN-Japan Partnership in the New Millennium, adopted at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit held in December 2003 in Tokyo, mandated to pursue expeditiously and substantively common strategies for joint action, including in the transport sector, through ensuring safe and efficient transport networks. ASEAN and Japan will start consultation beginning 2004 on facilitation and cooperation in areas to transportation and logistics.
The First Meeting of ASEAN and Japan Transport Ministers, held on 25 October 2003, endorsed the Terms of Reference for ASEAN-Japan Transport
Partnership, as well as the 16 joint projects for implementation for 2003-2004. ASEAN-Japan partnership covers policy dialogue, enhancing human resource development and cooperation in the facilitation of cargo transport, physical distribution and logistics, enhancing safety in maritime transport, enhancing safety and efficiency of international air transport services, and promotion of advanced transport technologies to ensure security and protect the environment.
Japan convened several meetings to implement the ASEAN-Japan transport partnership projects. These included (a) ASEAN-Japan Logistics Expert’s Group Meeting in Tokyo in November 2003; (b) Seminar on Maritime Security and Combating Piracy in Tokyo in December 2003; (c) ASEAN-Japan Seminar/Meeting on New Air Navigation System in Tokyo in January-February 2004; and (d) experts meeting on the ASEAN-Japan Urban Transport Policy Project in Osaka in March 2004.
The ASEAN-China Transport Ministers Meeting was held in Yangon in October 2003. An ASEAN-China Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Transport Cooperation is being prepared for adoption at the Third ATM-China meeting or at the ASEAN + China Summit in 2004. The MOU will cover transport infrastructure development and construction, transport facilitation, maritime safety, human resource development in maritime, land and inland waterways transport and civil aviation, railways cooperation, and information exchange. A proposal to establish a consultative mechanism among ASEAN and China maritime administrations/ authorities has been made. ASEAN and China have endorsed the initial joint projects and activities covering Port Management and Marketing Workshop, Workshop on the Regulation Techniques of Inland Waterways and Joint Table-top Search and Rescue Exercise for implementation in 2004-
2005.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) extends technical assistance in the preparation of the ASEAN Highway Fact Book and the Technical Manual for Highway Feasibility Studies under the ASEAN-ROK Preparation Studies for the ASEAN Highway Network Project. ROK has committed to fund the IAI Feasibility Study for the Missing Links and Spur Lines of the Singapore Kunming Rail Link (SKRL) in the CLMV Countries.
With the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, ASEAN is formulating a five-year ASEAN Road Safety Action Plan, an ASEAN Intelligent Transport
System (ITS) Policy Framework, and an ASEAN highway numbering system of three numeric designations.
The ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) agreed to establish the STOM Special Task Force on Transport Security with the participation of private sector transport organisations. This task force will discuss the challenges in the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and the requirements for improved aviation/airport security in accordance with relevant ICAO instruments, maritime/port security and anti-sea piracy measures.
The ASEAN Transport Action Plan 2005-2010 is being formulated for adoption at ATM Meeting in Cambodia in November 2004. To cope with the increasing growth in regional trade and to improve access to international markets, the Plan envisages that ASEAN Member Countries will collectively work towards improving the quality of transport systems and logistics services and reducing transaction costs.
The Action Plan on Air Services Liberalisation in ASEAN is also expected to be adopted in Cambodia in November 2004. The Roadmap for Integration of ASEAN Competitive Air Services Policy, as endorsed by the ATM in Yangon, will form part of the Action Plan on Air Services Liberalisation in ASEAN. The Action Plan will aim to achieve the full liberalisation of air services towards an Open Sky policy.