Under ICAO's stewardship, over the past 20 years the world's leading air carriers have achieved a 70 percent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions, increased fuel efficiency by nearly 50 percent, and, since the first generation of jets was introduced, reduced noise by 85 percent. We look forward to the successful resolution of the more challenging issues that are now on the table in the Committee for Aviation Environmental Protection. With the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, we continue to join with other governments to encourage uniform adherence to international standards and thereby ensure the safety and security of international civil aviation. We will remain vigilant in ensuring full implementation of the rights we have negotiated. We are proud of what we have accomplished together and look forward to the challenges ahead.
Aviation is a vital, indeed indispensable, part of the global economic integration trend.
We will continue to be your partner in ensuring that aviation remains the hub of the global economy.