11th CAREC Ministerial Conference

Ministers of the 10 CAREC member countries – Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – endorsed the Wuhan Action Plan, which charts the next steps of the CAREC Program. The action plan was supported by representatives of the 6 CAREC multilateral institutions and other development partners.

The action plan prioritizes implementation of more than $23 billion in new regional transport infrastructure projects, together with energy and trade initiatives, aimed at creating seamless connectivity and greater prosperity in the region.

It also emphasizes the critical role of the CAREC Institute in providing knowledge support to CAREC priority sectors. CAREC ministers agreed to establish a base for the CAREC Institute in the region by 2014 to support strategic projects through analytical work, training, and knowledge management.

The action plan will pursue a practical, results-oriented, and corridor-based approach to facilitate cross-border transport. Nonphysical barriers to inter-state and transit transport in the CAREC region should be removed and future directions of transport facilitation arrangements are recommended.

The ministerial meeting was opened by PRC’s Finance Minister Mr. Xie Xuren. ADB President Mr. Haruhiko Kuroda delivered the keynote address. Deputy Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department of the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Juha Kähkönen, made a presentation on the economic outlook in CAREC countries.

PRC’s national focal point Mr. Chen Shixin delivered the Report of the Senior Officials’ Meeting to CAREC Ministers. Representatives of the multilateral institution partners shared their views on the overall theme of the Ministerial Conference – Implementing CAREC 2020: Vision and Action.

The ministerial conference formally adopted the Joint Ministerial Statement and was closed by PRC’s Finance Minister Mr. Xie Xuren.

Following the ministerial meeting, on 31 October the Hubei Provincial Government sponsored a business forum for all participants of the Ministerial Conference.