United Nation Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Transport and Tourism Division

ASIAN HIGHWAY TRUCK CARAVAN

The Commission, at its 63rd session in May 2007, approved Resolution 63/9 “Implementation of the Busan Declaration on Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific and the Regional Action Programme for Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific, phase I (2007-2011)”. One of the main actions contained in the Regional Action Programme is the promotion and development/upgrading of the Asian Highway network. In resolution 63/9, the Commission deemed “that an effective approach to the realization of an integrated transport system is through the operationalization of priority transport corridors and routes within the system” and stressed “the important contribution of transport infrastructure and services in achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.

In line with the resolution and in order to increase international visibility and awareness with regards to the work of member countries and ESCAP, the secretariat plans to organize a truck caravan from Tokyo to Istanbul along the Asian Highway.

The caravan will be organized in 2009 in cooperation with the member countries concerned and having as implementing partner the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and its national road transport associations. The IRU is a non-profit NGO representing the road transport industry worldwide and has consultative status with the UN.

The backbone itinerary proposed is Tokyo, Japan, following route AH1 and crossing to the Republic of Korea (AH1), crossing to Tianjin, China (AH3) continuing through AH5 in China to Kazakhstan (AH5), Kyrgyzstan (AH5), Uzbekistan (AH5), Turkmenistan (AH5), crossing to Azerbaijan (AH5), and continuing to Georgia (AH5) and to Istanbul, Turkey (AH1). Additional trucks from other participating countries are most welcomed to join the initial Caravan, through different AH routes.