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Conclusion: Paul Laeremans, IRU President
Speeches
Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me to thank our different partners, Busworld, UITP and IRU's Chinese Member Association, the China Road Transport Association, as well as the speakers and moderators for their many efforts in making this first International Bus and Coach Forum in Shanghai a memorable event. I would also like to thank, Busworld's local partner VNU Exhibitions for facilitating this Forum. Special thanks also to the Chinese and Shanghai authorities for their much appreciated support as well as to the representatives of the United Nations, the World Bank and the European Commission for their active contribution to today's debates. Dear colleagues and friends, what can we conclude from our proceedings? The choice of the theme "Profitable Bus and Coach Operations in or with China" demonstrates the commitment of the IRU and its partners to contribute to the further development of high quality, safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally-friendly collective passenger transport, including by bus coach and taxi in China and around the world. Road passenger transport by bus, coach and taxi promotes tourism which helps developing markets to emerge and encourages further integration. It provides the required mobility to unite people and improves the distribution of wealth worldwide. Today, we have seen that our task is without a doubt a great one. Optimal benefits can only be achieved by working together in close cooperation with international governmental and non-governmental institutions, national and local governments, all modes of transport and other players in the tourism industry, such as tour operators, travel agents, tourist authorities and hotels and restaurants. The IRU's slogan, "Working together for a better future" is indeed the approach to guarantee progress and success. For this partnership to evolve, however, the many initiatives and achievements of the collective passenger and tourism industry should be recognised and rewarded through appropriate incentives. As we have heard today, such a partnership would steer us towards the better understanding and practical implementation in all countries of the IRU's "3i" strategy for achieving sustainable development of:
We also conclude from our exchanges that it is through such genuine partnership that not only the transport operators, but society at large will most benefit from the further development of collective passenger transport and tourism in and with China. Such partnerships should cover all factors: regulations and their enforcement, staff, vehicles and infrastructure as progress depends on all of these elements. Top priority must be given to a change in the political perception of our industry's activities. Collective passenger transport should be facilitated rather than penalised by a corresponding adaptation of legislation and infrastructure in order to meet the growing mobility demands and achieve sustainable development. This top priority should result in the elimination of misguided and punitive policies that restrict the movement of buses, coaches and taxis on roads and in city centres. Reducing sources of unfair competition between the different passenger transport modes, the creation of open, fair and transparent rules for the allocation of operating rights and ending discrimination based on nationality are necessary measures to help achieve this goal. Bringing public transport services closer to citizens is also a key element. The integration of urban and inter-urban bus and coach services and multi-modal interchanges must be encouraged further. Several speakers highlighted the need to facilitate tourism to and from China. In this respect, the relevant Agreement between the European Union and China is a milestone opportunity for the travel and tourism industry to put its entrepreneurial spirit into high gear, and seize the many opportunities created by this historic development which will increase tourist flows in both directions. The quality of service is an increasingly important factor. Cultural differences must be understood, respected and appropriately addressed. In a highly competitive road passenger transport and tourism sector, customers increasingly demand and expect tourism and transport professionals to have a higher awareness of cultural differences, excellent levels of vocational training and top-quality expert skills. The IRU has developed excellent training standards in response to this requirement, which are provided by the IRU Academy through its Accredited Training Institutes. The vehicle is another important element of the quality equation. It has been clearly emphasised that more efforts are required to improve the safety of passengers and vehicles around the world by perfecting vehicle design, technology and materials and by increasing the dissemination of best practices, whilst improving the environmental performance of buses and coaches. The United Nations standard setting bodies and vehicle manufacturers have an important role to play in this area. Road passenger transport will always be a key player in the mobility chain and in promoting tourism. As such, we must also continue to search for cooperation with governments and authorities to achieve the international harmonisation of all social, fiscal and technical rules governing competition to create equal opportunities in the market for all actors, thereby increasing economic and social integration, as well as the prosperity of countries and regions. May I now ask the Managing Director of Busworld, and the Secretary General of UITP and CRTA to join me for the signing of the Shanghai Declaration, which reflects these conclusions. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to conclude by stressing that while we call on collective passenger transport and tourism's governmental and commercial partners to play their just role in the Shanghai Declaration, the signatories pledge to continue to work together for a better future with a view to driving economic growth and employment through the development of trade and tourism in China, Asia and indeed around the world. |
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