Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin POKSS Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications attended the 25th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (25th ATM) and Associated Dialogue Partner Meetings held in Ha Noi, Viet Nam on 14 – 15 November 2019.
Officiated by His Excellency Trinh Dinh Dung, Deputy Prime Minister of Viet Nam, the 25th ATM was chaired by His Excellency Nguyen Van The, Minister of Transport of Viet Nam. The Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam attended as the Vice-Chair to the 25th ATM.
Amongst the highlights of the meeting, the ATM endorsed the proposal to develop a Road Safety Principles document by 2020, including the compilation of videos to showcase ASEAN’s efforts in improving road safety and reducing road fatalities in the region. The video is to be launched during the 26th ATM in Brunei Darussalam in 2020.
The main highlights of the meeting were the signing of two key documents namely:
1) The Protocol to Implement Eleventh Package of Commitments on Air Transport Services under ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services; and
2) The Protocol 3 on the Expansion of Fifth Freedom Traffic Rights Between Contracting Parties of the ASEAN China Air Transport Agreement (AC-ATA).
The Protocol to Implement Eleventh Package of Commitments on Air Transport Services aimed at enhancing cooperation to improve efficiency, competitiveness and supply of services, and liberalise further the air transport services among ASEAN Member States. Whereas for Protocol 3, is to further enhance air connectivity between ASEAN and China and designated airlines of the ASEAN Member States will be given the traffic rights to provide services for a total of 36 destinations in China.
The Transport Ministers of ASEAN also held meetings with ASEAN Dialogue Partners; China, Japan and Republic of Korea to discuss and adopt joint initiatives in enhancing transport cooperation between ASEAN and the Dialogue Partners.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib also paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Nguyen Van The, Minister of Transport of Viet Nam in his capacity as the Chairman of the 25th ATM.
The 25th ATM was preceded by the 48th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (48th STOM) and Associated Dialogue Partner Meetings, held from 11 – 13 November 2019. The delegation of Brunei Darussalam to the 48th STOM was headed by Yang Mulia Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications.
The 25th ATM also followed with the handing over of the ATM chairmanship to Brunei Darussalam where Brunei Darussalam will be hosting the 26th ATM and Associated Dialogue Partner Meetings in November 2020.
The annual ATM meeting gathers all ASEAN Member States (AMS) to discuss on the progress implementation of the projects and initiatives under ASEAN transport cooperation and to further enhance this cooperation between ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Dialogue Partners, towards an efficient, safe and sustainable transport system.
Prepared by:
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Brunei Darussalam
15 November 2019
