December 4, 2024
VIENTIANE – ASEAN transport ministers have approved and signed the 5th Commitment on Own Stopover Rights under a Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation on Air Passenger Services.
This is viewed as a significant achievement and a new step for air connectivity in ASEAN.
The document was signed last week during the 30th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting was attended by Laos’ Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr Ngampasong Muongmany.
The success of this meeting follows on from the various programmes agreed to at the 29th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting held in Luang Prabang in November 2023.
Last week’s meeting included a report on developments in the ASEAN transport sector over the past year and endorsed the outcomes of the 57th and 58th STOM meetings, annual priority tasks, the 2024 outcomes of the ASEAN transport sector, and key documents including Guidelines on Light Electric Vehicles and Guidelines on Urban Freight Transport.
In conjunction with the 30th ASEAN Transport Ministers’ Meeting, the Malaysian Ministry of Transport hosted a special meeting between ASEAN transport ministers and key development partners involved in developing and building infrastructure to serve ASEAN transport, namely ADB, AIIB, World Bank, UNESCAP and ITF, to discuss the future direction of ASEAN development and connectivity.
In addition, Mr Ngampasong held bilateral meetings with development partners, to evaluate and promote areas of cooperation within the bilateral framework for connectivity, to ensure progress as planned.