The ASEAN-China Transport Ministers’ Special Meeting on Connectivitywas held on September 2 in Nanning, China, on the sidelines of the 10thChina-ASEAN Expo, according to a joint statement.
The ministers conducted in-depth discussions on transport connectivityand had constructive exchanges of views and ideas with representativesfrom the industry, said statement which was released by the ASEANSecretariat on September 3.
The statement said theministers noted that since the official launch of the ASEAN-China FreeTrade Area (ACFTA), a large ASEAN–China trade and economic region istaking shape, with a population of more than 1.9 billion, land area ofover 14 million square kilometres and a gross value of production ofnearly 10 trillion USD. The ACFTA is now becoming the fastest-growingand most promising region in the world.
Theministers considered it opportune to continue to build upon the existingcollaborative mechanisms under the annual ASEAN-China TransportMinisters' Meeting (ATM+China) to deepen transport connectivitycooperation as both China and ASEAN countries are working to upgrade theACFTA and advance negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP).
On this basis, the ministersreached a consensus on maximising the working mechanism, of which theATM+China is the highest-level dialogue mechanism between the two sidesin the transport sector, playing a vital role in the implementation oftransport cooperation initiatives agreed by Chinese and ASEANTransport Ministers.
The strengthening ofconnectivity not only provides strong support for ASEAN member states tomaterialise the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015, but alsolays a solid foundation for future economic integration in this area,the ministers affirmed.
They agreed to encouragecompetent enterprises to directly engage in the investment, constructionand operation of projects so as to steadily advance the implementationof major projects.
The ministers agreed tostrengthen maritime transport and air connectivity, and maintain abalanced development of ASEAN-China connectivity cooperation and thedifferent stage of infrastructure development in the region.
They said they would further enhance existing transport cooperationand improve connectivity both within ASEAN and between ASEAN and China,for the mutual benefit of ASEAN nations and China, with special emphasison the least developed member states.
Theministers tasked senior officials to identify the key projectsconnecting China with ASEAN members or those linking the bloc’s statesat an early date.-VNA
The ministers conducted in-depth discussions on transport connectivityand had constructive exchanges of views and ideas with representativesfrom the industry, said statement which was released by the ASEANSecretariat on September 3.
The statement said theministers noted that since the official launch of the ASEAN-China FreeTrade Area (ACFTA), a large ASEAN–China trade and economic region istaking shape, with a population of more than 1.9 billion, land area ofover 14 million square kilometres and a gross value of production ofnearly 10 trillion USD. The ACFTA is now becoming the fastest-growingand most promising region in the world.
Theministers considered it opportune to continue to build upon the existingcollaborative mechanisms under the annual ASEAN-China TransportMinisters' Meeting (ATM+China) to deepen transport connectivitycooperation as both China and ASEAN countries are working to upgrade theACFTA and advance negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP).
On this basis, the ministersreached a consensus on maximising the working mechanism, of which theATM+China is the highest-level dialogue mechanism between the two sidesin the transport sector, playing a vital role in the implementation oftransport cooperation initiatives agreed by Chinese and ASEANTransport Ministers.
The strengthening ofconnectivity not only provides strong support for ASEAN member states tomaterialise the ASEAN Economic Community by the end of 2015, but alsolays a solid foundation for future economic integration in this area,the ministers affirmed.
They agreed to encouragecompetent enterprises to directly engage in the investment, constructionand operation of projects so as to steadily advance the implementationof major projects.
The ministers agreed tostrengthen maritime transport and air connectivity, and maintain abalanced development of ASEAN-China connectivity cooperation and thedifferent stage of infrastructure development in the region.
They said they would further enhance existing transport cooperationand improve connectivity both within ASEAN and between ASEAN and China,for the mutual benefit of ASEAN nations and China, with special emphasison the least developed member states.
Theministers tasked senior officials to identify the key projectsconnecting China with ASEAN members or those linking the bloc’s statesat an early date.-VNA
