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2004 APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting

Bali, Indonesia | 26 - 28 July 2004
We, the Ministers Responsible for Transportation in the APEC Region, met in Bali, Indonesia, on July 27-29, 2004, to continue progress towards achieving the goals of free and open trade and investment in Asia-Pacific by 2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing economies set out by our APEC Economic Leaders' Declaration at Bogor. In this regard, we strive for the highest possible standards of efficiency, safety, security and environmental sustainability for our transportation systems.
Since September 11, 2001, we have witnessed a number of terrorist attacks around the world, including in the APEC Region. We condemn, in the strongest terms possible, such attacks and the targeting of transportation systems to inflict terror on civilians. We are united in our determination to enhance regional cooperation on transportation security.
In Bali, we considered ways and means of reducing impediments to trade and investment, while enhancing security and safety, including progressively liberalizing transportation services, engaging in economic and technical cooperation, and building human and institutional capacity. We recognized that through the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) initiative, APEC economies are building a transport and trade system in our Region that strengthens security while facilitating the movement of people and goods.
Recognizing the rapid increase of road traffic fatalities and injuries worldwide, especially in the APEC Region, which accounts for over 40 percent of the 1.2 million global fatalities, we commit to working together in combating this rising transportation, public health and economic problem.
We benefited from an open dialogue with the leaders of the Region's transportation industry, and we call upon industry and our officials to continue to work together to promote economic prosperity and a secure, safe, efficient and integrated transportation system for all member economies.
The Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG) is the instrument by which both APEC Leaders' and Ministers' goals and directions in the transport field are implemented collectively. We noted the report of the activities of the TPT-WG, and expressed our satisfaction with the work that it has accomplished since our meeting in 2002, and endorsed its Operational Plan.
OUR PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE
Reaffirming that a principal aim of cooperation in APEC for transportation is trade liberalization and facilitation as well as economic and technical assistance;
According high priority to ensuring a safe, secure, efficient, integrated and environmentally sustainable transportation system for the Region;
Recognizing that the capacity constraints of our transportation systems need to be reduced so that our people, goods and services can move safely and freely;
Recognizing that transnational organized crimes increasingly pose serious threats to the security and safety of aviation, land, and maritime transportation and preservation of environment;
Recognizing that a focus on intermodalism would permit the possibility of exploring innovative solutions to transportation challenges in the region; and
Mindful of the priorities established by Chile, as APEC Host Economy for 2004, with respect to encouraging progress towards a community based on sustainable development;
We state our priorities for all modes of transportation as being:
  • Implementing the Bogor Goals on free and open trade and investment;
  • Harnessing new technologies and best practices to facilitate travel and trade;
  • Improving transport safety in the region;
  • Implementing the goals of the Leaders' Statement on Counter Terrorism, including efforts to curb terrorist threats against all modes of transportation;
  • Implementing the Secure Trade in the APEC Region (STAR) and other security related initiatives consistent with international law;
  • Improving human capacity and institutional development, with a particular focus on developing concrete results-oriented actions of economic and technical assistance and capacity building to ensure the balanced advancement between economic and technical cooperation and trade and investment liberalization and facilitation;
  • Cooperating with international organizations with common goals in accordance with APEC rules, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) without duplication of the work undertaken by those organizations; and
  • Supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) through trade facilitation measures.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

In implementing these priorities, we recognize the continuing work and action being undertaken within the Working Group on all modes of transport and infrastructure as well as their integration. Without limiting the initiative of the Working Group, we direct it to give particular focus to the following concrete actions:

  • Develop a roadmap consistent with APEC principles, to be reported to Ministers six months before our next meeting, describing the remaining work required for reaching the Bogor Goals of trade liberalization and facilitation as well as economic and technical assistance in all modes of transportation;
  • Implement a road safety technical assistance initiative to establish a model traffic safety data collection and evaluation system to better target road safety policies and strategies and combat road safety hazards;
  • Support the continuing implementation of maritime and aviation security measures, with emphasis on
    • the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code);
    • working to support international efforts, including those by multilateral agencies, to control access to MANPADS and other potential threats to civil aviation;
  • Implement an intermodal supply chain security initiative over the next two years;
  • Establish a web-based learning and technical information exchange system; and establish a professional exchange program to assist training and education and the mobility of transport professionals;
  • Implement a Global Navigation Satellite System test bed in all areas of the APEC region;
  • Implement arrangements for the structured exchange of information among member economies on safety and security best practices and measures;
  • Develop a proposal to support the secure transport of dangerous goods, that would include an inventory of economies' regimes pertaining to transportation of dangerous goods and other appropriate actions;
  • Develop concrete and specific action plans to carry forward economic and technical cooperation between APEC developed economies and developing economies to assist in establishing an efficient, safe, secure and environmentally sustainable transportation system;
  • Enhance cooperation with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, through appropriate APEC channels, to improve member economies' transport infrastructure and the capabilities of their transport professionals, including in the area of international security commitments. We note the existence of the APEC-Asian Development Bank (ADB) Regional Trade and Financial Security Initiative in this regard; and
  • Implement our Leaders' directives with regard to sustainable development.

We direct the TPT-WG, within the next 12 months, to take stock of the organization, activities and business practices of the Working Group to identify approaches and actions that will further support its ability to provide concrete and productive advice to Ministers in support of the Leaders' Declarations.

In addition, we instruct the TPT-WG to continue its work in implementing the attached Operational Plan with all deliberate speed, and to work with other relevant APEC fora as appropriate in order to implement APEC Leaders' and Ministers' Declarations.

CLOSING REMARKS

We agreed to meet again in 2006. We instruct the TPT-WG to provide a comprehensive report on its progress towards implementation of our priorities six months before our next Meeting.

We expressed appreciation to the Minister of Indonesia for hosting this 4th APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting and for the warm hospitality provided. We also thank the Chair for the efficient management of the meeting and the APEC Secretariat for its supportive work.