The second meeting of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) in 2016 and related meetings took place in Manado, Indonesia on May 29^th-30^th with Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN Nguyen Hoanh Nam in attendance.

The meetings reviewed the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2010 (MPAC) to strengthen intra-regional connectivity in terms of infrastructure, institutions and people.

ASEAN connectivity plan reviewed in Indonesia. (Photo: thediplomat.com)

Regarding infrastructure connectivity, attendees reviewed the progress of several projects, including the ASEAN Highway Network, the Singapore-Kunming Rail Link, and the ASEAN Broadband Corridor.

For institutional connectivity, the Implementation Frameworks of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market and the ASEAN Single Shipping Market were approved; and agreements on trade and transport facilitation will be continued.

For people-to-people connectivity, ASEAN rolled out the ASEAN Virtual Learning Resources Centre and the ASEAN Curriculum Sourcebook while courses on ASEAN studies have been introduced in universities of the ASEAN University Network.

Attendees highlighted a lack of capital and human resources and insufficient coordination as obstacles to implementing the MPAC.

They stressed the need to strengthen coordination to implement the MPAC and improve the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat in monitoring ASEAN Connectivity projects.

The meetings also developed the post-2015 ASEAN Connectivity Agenda which will be submitted to ASEAN leaders for approval at the ASEAN Summit this September.

The ACCC’s third meeting this year will be held in Vientiane, Laos in October./.

( VNF/VNA )