& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Asia Pacific leaders agree on integrated transport policies

BSS, Dhaka
Leaders of Asia-Pacific countries yesterday agreed on formulating integrated policies and decision-making frameworks on transport through strategic assessments of economic, environmental, social and poverty-related aspects.
In order to support increased regional economic integration effectively, the governments would develop and implement transport policies at the national, sub-regional and regional levels in line with developing an international integrated inter-modal transport and logistics system.
The agreement was reached at the Bangkok Declaration on Transport Development in Asia on the concluding session of the two-day long ministerial part of the five-day conference of Forum of Asian Minister oflYansport.
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) organised the meeting in the Thai capital.
Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, who earlier was elected chairperson of the session unanimously on the opening of minister's part, chaired the meeting yesterday.
The meeting observed that Bangladesh was committed to plating its role in promoting the development of an integrated multi- modal transport system
across the Asia-Pacific region.
The delegation of Indonesia informed the Forum of the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Public Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development, to be held in Jakarta, from April 14 to 17.2010.
Recognising the massive investments needs for the region's future transport infrastructure development, the Forum noted various institutional arrangements and financing mechanisms, including special infrastructure funds that many countries had put in place.
It noted that many countries had initiated various actions to improve road safety through establishing national road safety committees or councils, safety boards, and road safety funds, defining goals and targets, developing and implementing road safety action plans, enacting legislation and implementing educational and awareness programmes.
The Forum considered that the development of minimum standards and codes of conduct for freight forwarders, multi-modal transport operators and logistics service providers would be a critical factor in upgrading skills and professionalism in the industry.
It stressed the importance of removing non-physical barriers to cross-border and transit transport in the region.
In this context, it also stressed the need for simplification of cross-border and transit formalities and procedures, the harmonisation of transport legislation and the application of new technologies tospeed up clearances at border crossing.
The Forum requested the secretariat to continue to assist and coordinate in the identification of priority investment needs and to promote financing for the development of road and railway infrastructure and rolling stock as well as supporting the installation of route signage along the Asian Highway network.
Before opening the session, UN ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, read out the message of the UN Secretary General.
Ministers from 14 countries and delegates from 40 member countries and different financing institutions and regional and sub-regional organisations are attending the meeting.
Representatives from Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sri Lanka, Thailand. Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vietnam attended the conference.