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News Releases |
Issued by the APEC Transportation Ministers
APEC Transport Ministers Respond to Economic Challenges, Spread of Swine Flu, Piracy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Manila, Philippines, 29 April 2009
Amid the succession of recent threats to transportation and supply chains in both individual and global economies, APEC Transport Ministers express their resolve to ensure "seamless and environmentally friendly transportation systems" throughout the APEC region. In a Statement issued today, Ministers addressed the challenges before them.
Economic Challenges
Having recently witnessed disturbing events in the global financial and energy sectors, we applaud the substantial stimulus measures taken by APEC member economies and note the unprecedented level of investment across the region in transport technologies and infrastructure. We support targeted and strategic investment in transport infrastructure and systems generating short-term impacts on growth and employment and long-term opportunities for economic development and improved environmental sustainability.
We also urge all APEC member economies to recognise the long-term benefits of open markets and economic integration, as well as the importance of fair and equitable opportunities and to continue to work towards agreements or other means to achieve transport liberalisation to enhance mobility of people and goods in the APEC region.
Swine Flu
Concerned by the recent public health developments in a number of our economies, we call upon our officials to work closely with the transportation industry and with their colleagues in the public health agencies to enhance preparedness for and contain the spread of pandemic influenza.
Piracy
We condemn in the strongest possible terms, acts of piracy and armed robbery against ocean going vessels and innocent seafarers off the coast of Somalia and express our collective support of the decisive actions of the United Nations (UN) and relevant organizations to protect vital international shipping lanes for overseas trade. We encourage further concerted efforts to fight against piracy.
Energy and Food Prices
The current global economic crisis and volatile energy prices have not only undermined the economic gains we have achieved over the past several years but have also threatened transportation components of each economy and the global transport supply chain. We share the concerns of our Leaders about the negative impact of volatile global food prices. We recognise that transportation and distribution systems are necessary to help stabilise these prices.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
We recognize that greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on climate change present a major global challenge to the environment and the need for transportation to make its contribution to the global response to this challenge. In particular, we acknowledge the work of the IMO and International Civil Aviation Organization in addressing international maritime and aviation emissions. APEC Transportation Ministers support global solutions to a global problem and advocate the work at IMO and in ICAO's Group on International Aviation and Climate Change in support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Ministers met in Manila (27 - 29 April 2009) to continue their work towards achieving a safe, secure and efficient transportation system, with a view to realizing free and open trade and investment in the region. They will next meet in 2011. To view the Joint Transportation Ministerial Statement in full, go to: http://www.apec.org/media/2009_tptmm.html
For more information, contact:
Carolyn Williams at cdw@apec.org or at (65) 9617 7316
Anita Douglas at ad@apec.org or at (65) 9172 6427