Skip to main content

2013 APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting

Tokyo, Japan | 05 September 2013
  1. As Ministers responsible for transportation in the APEC region, we met in Tokyo, Japan, on September 5, 2013, under the APEC 2013 theme of “Resilient Asia-Pacific: Engine of Global Growth” and its three priorities:    (i) Attaining the Bogor Goals; (ii) Achieving Sustainable Growth with Equity; and, (iii) Promoting Connectivity.


  2. Our meeting was preceded by a “Business Forum”, where participants from both the private and public sectors shared ideas with respect to the transportation and infrastructure needs of economies – individually and collectively – in order to strengthen the planning and implementation of measures to promote sustainable growth, economic integration, and regional cooperation.


  3. Further to a commitment made at our 7th Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco in 2011, a “Women in Transportation Forum” was also convened, recognizing the positive effect that the increased participation of women has on growth, sustainability and the enhanced economic competitiveness of the transportation sector throughout the APEC region.


    4. Promoting Connectivity

  4. We remain committed to improving transportation systems to ease the flow of goods, people, services, and capital in the APEC region, and we direct the TPTWG to continue to enhance its work on connectivity including in the areas of aviation, maritime, cruise industry, logistics, intercity and urban transport, intelligent transportation systems, and intermodal networks.


  5. Mindful of regional targets of economic integration within ASEAN by 2015, achieving the Bogor Goals by 2020, and recognizing the importance of sharing the vision of the transportation network within the APEC region, we instruct the TPTWG to develop a transportation “Connectivity Map” that will visualize our ideal of physical and institutional integration to be reached by the year 2020, and to report on it at the next Ministerial Meeting.


  6. We welcome the efforts of economies to implement the transport elements of the Supply Chain Connectivity Framework Action Plan.


  7. We also support this year’s initiative to establish a unifying, forward-looking, and ambitious APEC Framework on Connectivity and its three pillars - physical connectivity, institutional connectivity, and people-to-people connectivity - in order to strengthen regional economic integration, contribute to economic growth and enhance trade.


  8. An open and liberal international aviation regime is conducive to commercial and economic growth across the APEC region.  We note in particular the conclusion of the 6th meeting of the ICAO Worldwide Air Transport Conference that States should continue to pursue market access liberalization according to their respective situations and requirements, using existing avenues such as the Multilateral Agreement on the Liberalization of International Air Transportation.  We also note ICAO’s recommendation to develop and adopt a long-term vision for international air transport liberalization, including the examination of an international agreement.  We welcome the progress made by APEC economies in liberalizing aviation markets and recommend that they continue their work in this regard.


  9. We endorse the working document of the TPTWG that contains a set of core principles outlining best practices in the economic treatment of international business aviation operations.  In accordance with these principles, business aviation can connect major Asia-Pacific centers of trade in an unprecedented, time-saving manner.  These principles serve to open the door to global commerce for smaller communities and rural populations across the region that require access to major cities and manufacturing centers. 


  10. We further welcome the development by the TPTWG of a set of core principles that embody best practices in the economic treatment of commercial maritime operations.  With these principles, as presented in the APEC Framework on Connectivity, maritime trade can connect major Asia-Pacific centers in an efficient, resilient, secure and economically viable manner. 


  11. Recognizing the importance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) applications in achieving seamless intermodal transportation to enhance safety, security, and sustainability, we support the work of the GNSS Implementation Team (GIT) and encourage continued efforts by each economy to develop capabilities for GNSS interference detection and mitigation.


    12. Enhancing Transportation Infrastructure

  12. We reaffirm that transportation infrastructure development is essential to the promotion of economic growth in the APEC region.  This challenge is not only for developing economies, but also for developed economies. We encourage all economies to invest in new, upgraded, or replacement infrastructure, in order to meet increased transportation needs.


  13. In this regard, we take note of this year’s proposal to develop a coordinated approach to promoting development, investment, and financing of well-designed, sustainable and resilient infrastructure within and between our economies through the creation of a multi-year plan to improve physical connectivity in Asia-Pacific.


  14. We note that public-private cooperation and inter-governmental dialogue are important to ensure adequate, sustainable investments in, and maintenance and management of, transportation related projects.


  15. We therefore instruct the TPTWG to explore opportunities for deepening cooperation including sharing experiences and best practices in transportation infrastructure investment, financing and operations, particularly with regard to public-private partnerships.


    16. Pursuing “Quality Transport”

  16. The remarkable economic growth in the APEC region requires a transportation network that can keep pace with development and meet the expectations of the business community and society more broadly.  We reaffirm the importance of sharing information on advanced transportation systems; policy and regulatory measures; innovative technologies; and universal design concepts, notably as they pertain to accessibility. We will also continue efforts made to date on intelligent supply chain initiatives.


  17. To this end, we direct the TPTWG to develop a “Quality Transport” vision, encompassing convenience, efficiency, safety, security, and sustainability as priorities, in cooperation with other relevant APEC fora.


    18. Natural Disasters

  18. We reaffirm the importance of preparedness, resilience and response to natural disasters within the APEC region.  We will continue to learn from past experiences and to share best practices to protect supply chains and transportation infrastructure.


    19. Capacity Building

  19. Acknowledging the important role of capacity building in strengthening and supporting the trade and investment liberalization and facilitation agenda particularly in making progress in the transportation sector in the APEC region, we reaffirm the 2012 leaders’ commitment to provide effective economic and technical cooperation.


  20. With regard to transportation safety, security, efficiency, and environmental protection, we note the importance of the initiatives underway in ICAO, IMO, and other international organizations as well as the complementary work of the TPTWG through information sharing and capacity building projects.  We instruct the TPTWG to collaborate with those international organizations where appropriate.


  21. We endorse the capacity building work being undertaken to promote the implementation of the relevant international treaties.


    22. Safety and Security

  22. We encourage the TPTWG to work with stakeholders from all modes to improve the safety and security of operators, service providers and facilities.


  23. We acknowledge the wide range of work that economies are undertaking on road safety and the prominence that the United Nations has accorded this major concern by progressing the Decade of Action for Road Safety, 2011-2020.  We recognize the important work of the TPTWG in facilitating information sharing and collaboration between developed and developing economies on evidence-based road safety policy measures with identified targets, systems and technologies.  We direct the TPTWG to continue this body of work.  We also encourage the TPTWG to undertake further work on improving safety between road and rail users.


  24. We encourage the TPTWG to maintain its collaboration with the International Working Group on Land Transport Security and to continue efforts to improve and promote best practices in the land transport security sector.


  25. We encourage economies to as far as possible utilize the latest transport security technology and give a high priority to providing comprehensive training to transport security personnel to assist them in delivering an effective transport security system so as to minimize any security risks to transport within the Asia-Pacific region.


    26. Combating Corruption and Illicit Trade across the Asia-Pacific Region

  26. We condemn any use of the transportation system by human traffickers within and across our borders.  The International Labor Organization estimates that globally, 20.9 million people are victims of forced labour, including people trafficked for sexual and other forms of labour exploitation.   Given that our transportation networks could be exploited by traffickers seeking to move their victims, we direct the TPTWG to explore ways to increase watchfulness and deter and prevent human traffickers from using our transportation networks.


    27. Vehicle Standards Harmonization

  27. We urge member economies to participate in the harmonization work under agreements administered by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Standards (WP.29) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) aiming at the improvement of the safety and environmental performance of vehicles as well as greater economic integration through harmonized vehicle standards and technical requirements.


    28. Women in Transportation

  28. We applaud the TPTWG’s work on the compendium of best practices for the inclusion of women in the transportation sector.  We instruct the TPTWG to build on its progress to develop a framework for collection of data and sharing of resources that will enhance opportunities for women in transportation and enable the measurement of progress over time. We encourage each economy to continue voluntary efforts to support this important endeavor.


    29. APEC Green Port Initiative

  29. We support the continuing work of the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) on the Green Port Initiative in encouraging collaboration, communication and capacity building among ports and related maritime sectors in the region.  We affirm the value of the Green Port Award System (GPAS) to enhance regional environmental awareness, share best practices, improve the overall performance, efficiency and sustainability of APEC ports and promote innovation for green growth.  We encourage the APSN and all economies to continue to contribute to green port development.


    30. APEC Travel Facilitation Initiative

  30. We instruct the TPTWG to work with other APEC fora to facilitate the relevant elements of the APEC Travel Facilitation Initiative.


    31. Conclusion

  31. We reaffirm our commitment to contribute to the further development of the APEC region by continuing our cooperative activities within APEC, with other international and regional organizations, and with the private sector and other stakeholders.


  32. Strong engagement and cross fora collaboration is needed to ensure that transportation in the APEC region is safe, secure, convenient, efficient, and sustainable. We recognize the complementary work within APEC in areas such as procedures related to trade and customs, business mobility, automotive industry, energy efficiency, tourism, and counter terrorism. We encourage the ongoing collaboration between the TPTWG and relevant APEC fora.


  33. We instruct the TPTWG to continue its efforts with respect to the implementation of the objectives set out at the Special Transport Ministers’ Meeting (STMM), TMM7, and previous Ministerial meetings.


  34. We agree to meet again in the Philippines in 2015 to work towards the further advancement of the transportation sector in the APEC region.


    35. ----------------