1. 3 rd Euro-Asian Road Transport Conference Beijing, China, 26-27 Sept. 2005 Promoting international transport Conventions through sub-regional agreements: UNESCAP experience and current initiatives in Asia Barry Cable Director Transport and Tourism Division UN ESCAP

2. 2  Conceived in 1959  To promote regional cooperation and trade  Criteria for identification of routes:  Capital to capital links  Industrial and agricultural centres  Sea, river and air ports  Container terminals & depots  Tourism attractions  To maximize use of existing infrastructure  Inter-Governmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network # Signed by 26 States in April 2004 # Entered into force in July 2005, ratified by 12 States Asian Highway

3. 3

4. 4 To Europe To East Asia and beyond Trans-Asian Railway

5. Zamyn Uud 1000 km Average speed 22.4 km/h Tianjin, 0 km 75 hrs 31 min. 500 km1000 km2000 km1500 km Day 4 Distance Time 1,691 km 33.7 km/h 27.5 km/h 04.18 a.m. Day 3 Day 2 Day 1 29 hrs 12 min. Erenhot, 983 km 02.30 a.m. 05.59 a.m. 20 hrs 31 min. Ulaanbaatar 1700 km Shunting + train formation: 3 hrs. 35 min. Transshipment: (3.5 min. per box) 3 hrs. 20 min. 4 hrs. 50 min.Mongolia, China,3 hrs. 00 min.Customs: Facilitation : UNESCAP Analysis Methodology Results of Demo Run Tianjin - Ulaanbaatar

6. 6 Facilitation  Resolution 48/11, adopted 1992  Convention on road traffic, 1968  Convention on road signs and signals, 1968  Customs convention on international transport of goods under cover of TIR carnets, 1975  Customs convention on temporary importation of commercial road vehicles, 1956  Customs convention on containers, 1972  International convention on harmonization of frontier control of goods, 1982  Convention on contract for international carriage of goods by road, 1956

7.  Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)  China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan  Analysis of existing agreements  Proposed SCO Agreement features: -Comprehensive approach -Application of international conventions -Harmonization with other agreements -Model agreement for other subregions -Open to accession by other countries Support to Subregional Facilitation

8. Greater Mekong Subregion  Under auspices of ADB  Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam  Introduction to Conventions for negotiation of Annexes/Protocols to Cross-border Transport Agreement  Review of Charges relating to Transit Traffic in line with international conventions  Capacity building for implementation Support to Subregional Facilitation

9.  Trade/Transport Facilitation Committee  National trade/transport facilitation coordination mechanisms  Regional Meetings to compare experience  Collation of good practices  Cluster subcommittees  Application of UNESCAP tools  Assignments to TTFC  Corridor studies  International Agreements/Conventions  Guidelines on harmonization and implementation  Training and capacity building  Application of ICT Integrated Trade/Transport Facilitation Project

10.  UNECE/UNESCAP collaboration  SPECA Working Group on Transport and Border Crossing Facilitation  Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan (Turkmenistan)  Euro-Asian Transport Linkages (17 Countries)  Identification of linkages/corridors  Infrastructure investments  Facilitation measures (Conventions) Support to Subregional Facilitation

11. 11  Resolution 48/11  UNESCAP Subregional TIR seminar for GMS countries in Kunming, China, 23-25 Sept. 2002  UNESCAP advisory services for Lao PDR, 11-12 Dec. 2003  UNESCAP-UNECE advisory services for China, 15-16 Jan. 2004  UNESCAP-ADB Subregional workshop for GMS countries in Bangkok, 24-27 Feb. 2004  UNESCAP-UNECE Subregional TIR seminar in Beijing, China, 22-23 Sept. 2005 Promotion of TIR Convention

12. Thank you for your attention