Open-skies pact tops agenda at Asean meet
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
SENIOR Asean transport officials are meeting in Singapore ahead of the 13th Asean Transport Ministers Meeting here on Thursday, with the Asean open-skies accord among issues taking centrestage.
Asean, the regional grouping of 10 Southeast Asian nations, has set December 2008 as the deadline to implement the open-skies accord which will see free access to Asean capitals.
Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim, who opened the meeting today, urged officials to finalise the implementing text for the roadmap so that it could be signed early next year.
"The air transport working group has been close to finalising the text for the Asean Roadmap for Integration of Air Travel Sector. For Asean to maintain its standing and credibility as a regional integrated entity, it is important that it consistently delivers on the commitments and pronouncements made," Lim said.
It was vital that all remaining obstacles were cleared to make the plan a reality, he said.
"We are so close to the finish line," Lim said, adding that the timely implementation of the roadmap will be a milestone in setting the region firmly on the path towards a full liberalisation of its air travel sector.
Apart from air linkages, officials will also deliberate a roadmap for an integrated and competitive maritime transport sector in Asean during the three-day meeting.
They will also meet their dialogue partners, China and Japan, on cooperation initiatives to enhance transport facilitation and integration between Asean and the two Asian economies.
On the maritime front, Lim said the maritime transport working group has made good progress in developing a roadmap for an integrated and competitive maritime transport sector in Asean.
"I am hopeful that this roadmap can be adopted at the coming Asean Transport Ministers Meeting and urge that we pay close attention to achieving this outcome," he said.
On China and Japan, Lim said a more liberalised Asean transport will open up a myriad of opportunities for growth and cooperation with its dialogue partners.
"Our Asean transport agenda must always be proactive, far-sighted and focused on the bigger picture. Our current transport partnerships with China and Japan are developing in the right direction but more can still be done," he said. Bernama
Asean, the regional grouping of 10 Southeast Asian nations, has set December 2008 as the deadline to implement the open-skies accord which will see free access to Asean capitals.
Singapore's Transport Minister Raymond Lim, who opened the meeting today, urged officials to finalise the implementing text for the roadmap so that it could be signed early next year.
"The air transport working group has been close to finalising the text for the Asean Roadmap for Integration of Air Travel Sector. For Asean to maintain its standing and credibility as a regional integrated entity, it is important that it consistently delivers on the commitments and pronouncements made," Lim said.
It was vital that all remaining obstacles were cleared to make the plan a reality, he said.
"We are so close to the finish line," Lim said, adding that the timely implementation of the roadmap will be a milestone in setting the region firmly on the path towards a full liberalisation of its air travel sector.
Apart from air linkages, officials will also deliberate a roadmap for an integrated and competitive maritime transport sector in Asean during the three-day meeting.
They will also meet their dialogue partners, China and Japan, on cooperation initiatives to enhance transport facilitation and integration between Asean and the two Asian economies.
On the maritime front, Lim said the maritime transport working group has made good progress in developing a roadmap for an integrated and competitive maritime transport sector in Asean.
"I am hopeful that this roadmap can be adopted at the coming Asean Transport Ministers Meeting and urge that we pay close attention to achieving this outcome," he said.
On China and Japan, Lim said a more liberalised Asean transport will open up a myriad of opportunities for growth and cooperation with its dialogue partners.
"Our Asean transport agenda must always be proactive, far-sighted and focused on the bigger picture. Our current transport partnerships with China and Japan are developing in the right direction but more can still be done," he said. Bernama
Business Besides Oil
