During the talks held concurrently with the APEC Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Adelaide city, Australia on March 28, Minister Dung also called on Australian authorities to help develop transport infrastructure in the Mekong Delta region and train officials working in the field.

At the meeting, APEC Ministers discussed the three major issues of transport safety, security and liberalization.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Regional Services of Australia, Mark Vaile, said that the meeting is designed to build the capacity of all APEC member economies to create an environment for the safe and efficient movement of passengers and freight across the region.

The World Bank’s recent report described maritime services as an important market, accounting for 3-5 percent of the APEC economies’ gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004.