Bangkok was the site of the third Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) for governors and mayorsMarch 11-13. This year’s theme,“ASEM Goes Local: Innovation and Regeneration,” focused on the four major topics of disaster management, response to environmental problems, traffic and transport management, as well as tourism management and cultural diversity.
In his opening speech, Bangkok Governor Sukumband Paribatra stressed the importance of cooperation between Asia and Europe in the context of globalisation and current geopolitical events. He also separately welcomed the delegation from Astana, a new member of ASEM.
During the forum,the Kazakh representativesinformed international participants about current development trends in Astana and the achievements of the young capital.
A hot topic of discussion was the sphere of transport and traffic management. In this context, the Kazakh delegation presented details about the new Astana transport system project, which consists of three complementary and integrated high-tech systems: light rail transit (LRT), bus rapid transit (BRT) and intelligent transport system.A portion of the 21-kilometreLRT will join Astana International Airport, the exhibition area for EXPO2017and a new railway station. An electronic ticketing system will soon be introduced, which will greatly enhance the efficiency of urban transport in the capital, the delegation reported.
According to the statement of the Akimat (town council), due to preparationsfor theinternational exhibition, the organisation of Astana’s public transport will significantly change by 2017.
Foreign delegates expressed the intention to expand cooperation in the structureof ASEM, both at the intergovernmental and inter-regional levels.
In the framework of the forum, the Kazakh delegation also held a bilateral meeting with Paribatra, during which the sides discussed the current state of cooperation between Astana and Bangkok and agreed to further develop and deepen the partnership between the capitals.
