2. The Director of the Transport Division welcomed the WP.29 representatives. She underlined the importance of the ongoing revision of the 1958 Agreement, which can be taken as an example for other legal instruments. She encouraged the World Forum to adopt the draft UN Regulations on recyclability of motor vehicles and retrofit emissions control devices. She invited countries to accede to the 1997 Agreement as a relevant indicator in the framework of the decade of action for road safety.

3. The Director of the Transport Division announced that, as a continuation of the UNECE road map on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), a round table on ITS synergies to improve road safety would be organized in Belgium. She invited the representatives to attend the Europe–Asia Road Safety Forum to be held in New Delhi on 4-6 December 2013 during the session of the Working Party on Road Safety (WP.1).

4. Mr. J. Bucayan, Undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications of the Philippines, underlined that the participation of his country in WP.29 was in view of finalising the mutual recognition arrangements (MRA) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on type approval for automotive products. He stated that the MRA was anchored to the principle of the 1958 Agreement and that signature was expected for implementation by ASEAN member States by 2015. He informed WP.29 that his country was taking the necessary steps to ensure the technical capability of carrying out automotive testing, inspections and certifications according to international safety standards. He added that the national committee on the harmonization of vehicle standards and regulations was aligning their standards and technical regulations with the provisions of UN Regulations. He acknowledged the assistance of Japan in the preparation of the Philippines to accede to the 1958 Agreement, as well as in the formulation of a road map for accession to the 1958 Agreement and in the introduction of the type approval system in his country. Finally, he stated that with the above-mentioned road map and a better understanding of the significance of the 1958 Agreement, the accession of the Philippines to the 1958 Agreement would be ensured in the near future.

5. Mr. S. Bandopadhyaya, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of India, confirmed his country’s interest in the harmonizing activities of the World Forum. He recalled the active participation of delegates of India in the work of WP.29. He announced that India was considering its accession to the 1958 Agreement, subject to the modification of the rule for adopting new UN Regulations and amendments to existing ones from the current two-thirds majority to a higher one.