Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Transport ministers from the 🅷Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a joint statement on strengthening regional transport connectivity and integration during their 21 st meeting that closed in🧸 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 6.

The statement said the ministers adopted the Kuala Lumpur strategic transport plan for 2016-2025, which designs a range of solutions to aviation, road and maritime transport to achieve the 2025 Vision of the ASEAN Economic Community. The ministers asked senior officials and transport working groups to work closely with parties concerned to realise the Kuala Lumpur Action Plan. On establishing the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM), the ministers hailed the enforcement of the ASEAN multilateral agreement on the full liberalisation of passenger air services and its implementing protocol. They expressed satisfaction with the progress of developing the ASAM, including building a legal framework for safety regulations and standards, and an archive on ASEAN aviation transport planning and operation. About cross-border transport and transit of passengers and goods, participants called for stronger efforts to expedite the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Cross Border Transport of Passengers. They also underscored the need to strengthen cooperation between transport and customs officials towards effectively implementing the ASEAN Customs Transit System. As regards the ASEAN Single Shipping Market (ASSM), they were satisfied with the progress made in the 2015-2016 Action Plan which is based on the ASSM implementation framework. Strengthened coordinating efforts will play a key role in launching strategies to achieve the ASSM, they said. During the meeting, they also adopted the ASEAN Declaration on Road Safety Strategy and the ASEAN Regional Road Safety Strategy, which marked key milestones in reinforcing regional road safety cooperation. Transport ministers thanked China, Japan and the Republic of Korea for their technical assistance in ASEAN transport projects. They also conveyed thanks to the European Union and Germany for their continuous support of regional transport integration. The 22nd meeting of this kind is slated for 2016 in the Philippines.-VNA