(VOVworld) - The 21st ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM-21) and related meetings kicked off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

Transport ministers pose for a photo at the event (Photo: VNA)

Minister of Transport, Dinh La Thang, led a Vietnamese delegation at the event.

In his opening remarks, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said transport plays a crucial role in developing ASEAN into a key economic bloc in the world.

The formation of the ASEAN Community at the end of this year will mark an important milestone, he said, adding that improving regional connectivity via land, air and maritime transport will make a remarkable contribution to the group’s evolution.

Promoting such current connectivity mechanisms as ASEAN Open Skies, Single Aviation Market, ASEAN Highway Network, and Singapore-Kunming Rail Link as well developing seaports and logistics will help increase trade and tourism on both the regional and global scales, as part of the ASEAN Connectivity master plan.

He said the liberalisation of aviation in ASEAN will also be a catalyst for regional economic growth in 2030.

Malaysian Minister of Transport Liow Tiong Lai told the press that the ATM-21 will touch upon key issues in the field, including the Kuala Lumpur transport strategic action plan for 2016-2025.