Asia-Europe transportation co-op urged

 CHENGDU -- Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang on Tuesday called for boosting transportation cooperation between Asian and European countries and establishing an environmentally-friendly, safe and efficient transportation system linking the two continents.

Zhang made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the second ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting, which gathered representatives from 36 member nations of the the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) and five international organizations.

Zhang proposed that ASEM member states should work together to further enhance the construction of regional transportation channels and push forward the establishment of a transportation infrastructure network covering the two continents.

Furthermore, all ASEM members should strengthen communication and coordination in legislation, industry regulations and technical standards, so as to reduce transportation costs and boost efficiency, he said.

Zhang called for that establishment of a green transportation system built with new energies, new materials, low-carbon techniques and information technologies that would facilitate the development of a recycling economy and public transportation.

Members of the ASEM should also build an emergency system to safeguard transportation security in Asia and Europe, including security regulations, disaster relief, and anti-piracy and emergency management systems, in order to improve their ability to handle major disasters and emergencies, Zhang added.