 The signing of the Protocol to Implement the 6th Package of Air Transport Services Commitments under ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and its Annex on 11 December 2009 in Ha Noi, Vietnam. Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty of Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam was the Honourable Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Communications, Brunei Darussalam |
The 15th ASEAN Transport Ministers (15th ATM) Meeting has concluded on a positive and encouraging note in Ha Noi, Vietnam. The Meeting was chaired by His Excellency Ho Nghia Dzung, Minister of Transport, Vietnam while the Honourable Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Communications, Brunei Darussalam served as the Vice-Chairperson.
In the aviation sector, the ASEAN Ministers concluded and signed the Protocol to Implement the 6th Package of Air Transport Services Commitments under ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) and its Annex on 11 December 2009 which further deepen and broaden Member States’ commitments in liberalising air transport ancillary services in the region. Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty of Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam was the Honourable Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Communications, Brunei Darussalam.
The Ministers commended the senior transport officials for their efforts towards finalising the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services (MAFLPAS) and its Protocols, which would further expand the scope of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Air Services to include other ASEAN cities. The Ministers endorsed in principle the text of the Agreement and its associated Protocols, for possible signing in 2010.
In the maritime sector, the ASEAN Ministers also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation Relating to Marine Casualty and Marine Incident Safety Investigations by the respective Maritime authorities of the ASEAN Member States on 11 December 2009 which lays out a framework for strengthening cooperation and mutual assistance of ASEAN Member States in marine safety investigation. Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty of Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam was Yang Mulia Haji Alaihuddin bin POKDG bin Hj Mohd Taha, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Communications.On land transport matters, the Ministers emphasised the importance of addressing the pressing road safety issues experienced by most ASEAN Member States and lauded the establishment of the ASEAN Multi Sector Road Safety Special Working Group that would further strengthen the institutional capacity in ASEAN Member States to tackle road safety issues more effectively by developing appropriate activities, systems and coordination mechanisms, including training key professionals skills and techniques across the region.
On cross-border transport facilitation, the Ministers also commended their senior officials for the successful outcomes of the Inaugural Meeting of ASEAN Transit Transport Coordinating Board (TTCB) held on 5-6 November 2009 at the ASEAN Secretariat, Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was an important step in speeding up the completion of all necessary regulatory and procedural foundations for the implementation of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Goods in Transit (AFAFGT), ASEAN Framework Agreement on Multimodal Transport (AFAMT), and ASEAN Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Inter-State Transport (AFAFIST) to facilitate seamless movement of goods in the region.
The Ministers further discussed the progress in the development of the ASEAN Strategic Transport Plan (ASTP) 2011-2015 that would support the realisation of the ASEAN Connectivity as lauded by the ASEAN leaders and the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 as well as the importance of pursuing sustainable transport programmes to increase energy efficiency and reducing consumption and emissions in the transport sector.
The Transport Ministers also held separate meetings with their dialogue partners China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on 11 December 2009. At the 8th ATM+ China Meeting, the Ministers acknowledged the development of ASEAN-China transport cooperation through implementation of the Strategic Plan for ASEAN and China Transport Cooperation and ASEAN-China Maritime Transport Agreement. The Ministers also looked forward to the conclusion of the MOU on the ASEAN-China Maritime Consultation Mechanism and the ASEAN-China Air Transport Agreement.
At the 7th ATM+Japan Meeting, the Ministers noted the progress of ASEAN-Japan cooperation through the implementation of the Manila Action Plan including activities on environment improvement in the transport sector and transport statistics.
ASEAN Transport Ministers held its first ever meeting with Republic of Korea (ROK) where the Ministers adopted the Framework Cooperation between the Transport Authorities of ASEAN and The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Under the Framework, the two sides will cooperate in the areas of land, air, maritime transport and transport facilitation through the implementation of joint projects and activities.
The 15th ATM was preceded by the 28th Senior Transport Officials Meeting and their meetings with the dialogue partners held from 7-9 December 2009.
Brunei Darussalam will host the 16th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting to be followed by the 9th ATM+China, 8th ATM+Japan and 2nd ATM+ROK in November 2010.
