APEC Transportation Ministers Meetings
The first meeting of Transportation Ministers from APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) nations was held in Washington D.C., U.S.A., in June 1995. The objective was to draw up guidelines for transportation in the Asia Pacific Region to guide transportation policies in the region into the next century. The meeting also defined priorities for cooperation in the transportation area. The second APEC Transportation Ministers Meeting was held in Victoria, Canada, in June 1997. This meeting summarized the steps taken within APEC since the first meeting. At the same time, the APEC Transportation Working Group identified six top priority themes for future activities. The 3rd meeting is scheduled to be held in Thailand in early 2000.
APEC Transportation Working Group
The APEC Transportation Working Group has been operating since October 1991. Its activities are classified into the following categories: (1) developing a more competitive transportation industry, (2) building a safer and more environmentally-friendly transportation system, and (3) cultivating human resources including research activities. At the 10th meeting in Pukhet, Thailand, in November 1996, a conference of port and harbor experts was established based on a proposal from Japan. The purpose of the conference is to promote technological cooperation for port development. Japan has played central roles in such projects as the Maritime Initiative, Transport Technology Database, and the Transparencey Initiative. It has also participated actively in the Road Transportation Coordination Project and the Inter-modal Taskforce. The 15th meeting is scheduled for April 1999 in Chile; the 16th will be in Hong Kong in the autumn of 1999.
