ASEAN-Japan cooperation program concerning comprehensive transportation safety and environmental measures, including with respect to automobile standards and certification systems. Four documents were also approved as the result of projects implemented to date: (i) a document compiling positive case studies of transportation safety and disaster prevention, (ii) a document compiling positive case studies of PPP, (iii) a report on a survey for the realization of a land bridge, and (iv) a green logistics vision and action plan.

At the twenty-seventh ASEAN Summit held in November 2015, a declaration announcing the year-end establishment of an ASEAN Community that includes the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) made and a new action plan setting forth 2025 as the new target year for integration was adopted. A new action plan for the transportation sector effective between 2016 and 2025 was also approved at the twenty-first ASEAN Transport Ministers' Meeting held in November of the same year.

## (4) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

The MLIT participates in the activities of multiple OECD organizations, including the International Transport Forum (ITF), the Council Working Party on Shipbuilding, the Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC), the Tourism Committee, as well as the Joint Transport Research Centre, which was jointly established by OECD and ITF.

The ITF is an international framework in which transport ministers from 57 countries play a central role in annual meetings to facilitate high-level and open discussions with world-renowned experts and business persons regarding transport policy. Previous topics discussed include climate change in the transport sector and globalization. At a ministers' meeting in May 2015, discussions based on a theme of transportation, trade, and tourism were held with an exploration of various different perspectives. Participants discussed how the global increase in demand for transportation caused by rising trade volumes and numbers of tourists should be handled and how transportation capable of accommodating environmental and other socioeconomic burdens should be configured.

In order to ensure fair competitive conditions in the shipbuilding market, the OECD Council Working Party on Shipbuilding strives to enhance policy transparency by conducting reviews of the shipbuilding policies of different countries and producing policy support tables. Discussions on resolving the recent problem of excess supply that constitutes a factor behind the cutthroat competition that can be seen in the global shipbuilding market are being held through the exchange of information on policies taken by each country.

The RDPC proactively conducts reviews of the policies of member countries with respect to land and regional policies, studies on urban policies in the context of green growth strategies, and surveys on sustainable urban policies and resilient cities in an aging society. In addition, a second review by country was conducted on Japan's land and regional policies over FY 2014–2015. This review positively recognized that Japan, a society that is undergoing a population decline and is aging at the same time, is attempting to convert this crisis into an opportunity through a long-term, comprehensive land plan and was adopted by the RDPC in November 2015.

The JTRC conducts surveys and research on policy issues commonly applicable to member countries. Japan also participates in a working group focused on Safe System Implementation to dealing with road traffic safety concerns. A program on the sensible uses of roads as proposed by Japan for 2016 and beyond was adopted and put into effect in March 2016.

## (5) United Nations (UN)

## (i) International Maritime Organization (IMO), and International Labor Organization (ILO)

In the maritime sector, in addition to responding to the IMO global agenda, bilateral talks were held at the Director level. A Japanese official served as Secretary-General of the IMO (until the end of 2015) and Japan itself proactively participates in the activities of this organization as a leading shipping and shipbuilding nation in the world. In FY 2015, we proactively contributed to discussions on measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships and on putting the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments into effect, the enactment of standards applicable to ships navigating the Arctic Ocean and other polar seas in response to focus placed on the adoption of new routes, the enactment of requirements for the training of onboard crewmembers, and the enactment of safety standards applicable to ships that use natural gas, which is characterized by a low environmental load and excellent economic efficiency, for fuel.

Efforts have also been undertaken to ensure appropriate compliance with stipulations governing appropriate onboard