1. The Twenty-First ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) Meeting was held on 5 November 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. H.E. Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister for Transport of Malaysia, chaired the Meeting and H.E. Mr. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, Secretary of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines was the Vice-Chairman. The Twenty First ATM Meeting was preceded by the Fortieth ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) and their consultations with dialogue partners held on 2-4 November 2015.

2. The Twenty-First ATM was officially opened by H.E Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. In his Opening Remarks, he called for united efforts in realising the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), in order to achieve the goal of a truly people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN. He underscored the importance of improved connectivity and transport networks to enhance the growth of ASEAN, enrich economic integration and the competitiveness of ASEAN Member States. In this context, he highlighted the main deliverables of the 21st ATM, especially the adoption of Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Action Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025, which contains strategic measures in the areas of air, land and maritime transport and aims to support the realisation of the vision of AEC 2025. He also lauded the progress achieved in key components of establishing AEC, such as liberalisation in aviation sector through development of ASEAN Single Aviation Markets (ASAM), the development of land transport infrastructure to achieve greater integration and inter-modal interconnectivity within ASEAN Member States and strengthened maritime connectivity through realisation of ASSM. He further looked forward to a meaningful and long-lasting economic relationship in the region, as well as with the Dialogue Partners, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

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