Ranking officials and experts from ASEAN countries gathered in Bangkok on July 10 for a meeting on promoting connectivity among member states and preventing negative impacts from connectivity.

The meeting is the third of its kind hosted by the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity following the first two meetings in Hanoi and Jakarta in March and May this year. It was held to complete the final draft for a master plan on ASEAN connectivity for endorsement by ASEAN leaders in the coming summit in Hanoi this October.

Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the World Bank also attended the event.

During the function, participants considered important connectivity projects including the ASEAN Highway initiative, construction of the Singapore-Kunming rail route and strategies for an ASEAN single shipping market and an ASEAN single aviation market.

Thai Foreign Ministry’s Director General of ASEAN Affairs, Itti Ditbanjong, said the ASEAN connectivity project was initiated by Thailand when the country held the rotation chairmanship of the ASEAN last year.

The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity aims to provide a regional cooperation framework for connectivity and to provide a foundation for further link-up with other regions such as East Asia and South Asia , he said, adding that it would help realise the goal of achieving an ASEAN Community by 2015.

According to the Thai official, the master plan will cover all aspects of connectivity, not only “hardware” infrastructure but also “software”, such as cross-border regulations.

The recognition and settlement of the negative effects of connectivity, such as smuggling and trafficking in narcotics, goods and humans, will also be included in the master plan, he said.

ASEAN connectivity will also be discussed at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting slated for July 19-23 in Hanoi./.