4. The representative of Malaysia provided the World Forum with an update on automotive development in Malaysia, as part of the country’s National Automotive Policy (NAP 2020) (WP.29-180-24). He stated that WP.29 had significant impact on NAP 2020 formulation especially in the area of safety regulations and administration enhancement in Malaysia. He also emphasized that NAP 2020 had aimed to transform the Malaysian automotive industry towards a connected mobility ecosystem by 2030. The representative of Malaysia concluded with stating that Malaysia would provide full support in the development of UN Regulations especially in the area of automated, autonomous and connected vehicles, namely the work carried out within the Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA).

Review of the Regional Workshop on Motorcycle Safety held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 April 2017. The workshop participants included 55 government officials and civil society representatives from 13 countries in the South and South-East Asia region, where 34 per cent of road deaths involve powered two-wheelers.

24. GRSP noted the summary report (GRSP-61-31) of the regional workshop on motorcycle helmets organized by the UNECE secretariat in Malaysia on 7 April 2017 to promote safety of two-wheeler riders.

25. The expert from IMMA remarked that crash situations in which two-wheelers are involved are quite complex and that the lack of data does not help to clarify dynamics. However, he stated the support of his organization on any activity of the secretariat to improve Powered Two Wheeler (PTW) safety.

73. The representatives of Malaysia informed the World Forum on the role of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in coping road safety issues in the ASEAN region (WP.29-165-11 and WP.29-165-12-Rev.1). He added that MIROS had been appointed as the ASEAN Road Safety Centre (ARSC) to provide information and know-how among ASEAN member States, including the development of ASEAN NCAP with the support by Global NCAP (WP.29-165-10 and WP.29-165-13-Rev.1). In the view of the expansion of capacity-buildings activities of ARSC in the APEC region, the representative of Malaysia sought possible sponsorships from countries participating in WP.29 activities. The representative of the United States of America encouraged the initiative of Malaysia that could result in new countries’ accessions to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements. The representative of OICA also welcomed the creation of the ASEAN Road Safety Centre, stressing that improvements to road safety needed an integrated approach involving all stakeholders, including the driver and the infrastructure in general.

73. The representatives of Malaysia informed the World Forum on the role of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in coping road safety issues in the ASEAN region (WP.29-165-11 and WP.29-165-12-Rev.1). He added that MIROS had been appointed as the ASEAN Road Safety Centre (ARSC) to provide information and know-how among ASEAN member States, including the development of ASEAN NCAP with the support by Global NCAP (WP.29-165-10 and WP.29-165-13-Rev.1). In the view of the expansion of capacity-buildings activities of ARSC in the APEC region, the representative of Malaysia sought possible sponsorships from countries participating in WP.29 activities. The representative of the United States of America encouraged the initiative of Malaysia that could result in new countries’ accessions to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements. The representative of OICA also welcomed the creation of the ASEAN Road Safety Centre, stressing that improvements to road safety needed an integrated approach involving all stakeholders, including the driver and the infrastructure in general.

73. The representatives of Malaysia informed the World Forum on the role of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) in coping road safety issues in the ASEAN region (WP.29-165-11 and WP.29-165-12-Rev.1). He added that MIROS had been appointed as the ASEAN Road Safety Centre (ARSC) to provide information and know-how among ASEAN member States, including the development of ASEAN NCAP with the support by Global NCAP (WP.29-165-10 and WP.29-165-13-Rev.1). In the view of the expansion of capacity-buildings activities of ARSC in the APEC region, the representative of Malaysia sought possible sponsorships from countries participating in WP.29 activities. The representative of the United States of America encouraged the initiative of Malaysia that could result in new countries’ accessions to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements. The representative of OICA also welcomed the creation of the ASEAN Road Safety Centre, stressing that improvements to road safety needed an integrated approach involving all stakeholders, including the driver and the infrastructure in general.

Proposal to raise the voting threshold required under the 1958 Agreement to approve a given text (e.g., new UN Regulation or amendment of an existing regulation) from the present two-thirds majority (achievable by the EU vote alone) to a four-fifths majority.

54. On behalf of Australia, Japan, Malaysia and the Russian Federation, the representative of Japan introduced WP.29-164-14 justifying the need to raise the voting majority threshold from the two-third to a four-fifths majority. The representative of EU presented a declaration (WP.29-164-30) by the European Commission Services on behalf of the EU member States and announced the intention to establish a coordinated position by March 2015.

55. The representative of India stated that his country was thankful to Japan for representing its views in IWVTA on the revision of 1958 Agreement. India was already a Contracting Party to 1998 Agreement. He noted that some of the suggestions were under consideration with respect to the 1958 Agreement. Ideally, India would prefer a consensus vote. Additionally, some suggestions have not reached consensus such as proxy voting, choice for accepting or not accepting higher version of UN Regulation, mechanism of validation of test agencies, dispute resolution mechanism, flexibility to apply a UN Regulation to a sub-set of vehicle categories, Contracting Party’s right to declare which versions it would accept, etc. He further stated that India appreciated that several countries had shown interest in developing the Indian market. This had improved the indigenous manufacturing industry in India, but India was carefully analysing the advantages that the 1958 Agreement would bring. He added that apart from being a large consumer market, India was also a significant producer of automobiles. India had established testing facilities in the country and was planning other advanced testing centres in near future. India also aspired to participate in other markets in future. India would like to actively participate in all WP.29 sessions and remained committed to better safety, emission and energy solutions, thus accepting regulations which were relevant for the country. India would, therefore, convey its decision on the 1958 Agreement after a detailed study of the final draft document before the March 2015 session of WP.29.

56. The World Forum recognized that the Contracting Parties would need more time to review the above proposals and agreed to resume consideration of this subject at its next session in March 2015. The representatives of Germany and the United Kingdom noted the need for a finalized text prior to submitting to their national authorities for approval and so the World Forum agreed that adoption of the revised agreement would be delayed accordingly. The secretariat was also requested to circulate WP.29-164-23 as a separate official document.