[sustran] UN News: ASIAN HIGHWAY NETWORK TO SPREAD ACROSS CONTINENTS AFTER LANDMARK DEAL

[Regina Manzo]

See news story below regarding highway network in Asia.

Anyone aware of whether the other modes were part of consideration for the 
"strong transport links" that are sought?  Anyone in Sustrans involved in 
related negotiations?

best,
Gina Manzo
Singapore

From: "UN News Service" <UNNews at UN.Org>
Reply-To: unnews at UN.Org
To: <news2 at list.un.org>
Subject: ASIAN HIGHWAY NETWORK TO SPREAD ACROSS CONTINENT AFTER LANDMARK 
DEAL - UN
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 13:00:49 -0500

ASIAN HIGHWAY NETWORK TO SPREAD ACROSS CONTINENT AFTER LANDMARK DEAL - UN
New York, Nov 21 2003  1:00PM
The Asian Highway network will be extended across 32 countries over the 
whole of the continent after delegates to the United Nations Economic and 
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) reached a landmark 
agreement this week.

During a two-day a meeting in Bangkok, ESCAP developed its first 
intergovernmental agreement - a deal it said in a statement would realize 
"the vision of an efficient, reliable regional transport network" for the 
continent.

The Asian highway route AH1 currently runs from Pusan in the Republic of 
Korea to Fukuoka and Tokyo in Japan. The new agreement means the network 
will eventually extend to 32 member countries of ESCAP with more than 
140,000 kilometres of highways.

ESCAP Executive Secretary Kim Hak-Su told the meeting that strong transport 
links are crucial if countries want to advance in a globalized economy. The 
agreement will be formally signed in Shanghai in April.
  2003-11-21 00:00:00.000

________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

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