FIATA President Prof. (Dr.) Thomas Sim Witnessed the Launch of CAREC-ASEAN International Transport Alliance, Boosting Cross-Regional Cooperation and Standardization

— “Alliance Innovates with alternative Unified Transport Document to Solve Legal Dilemmas in International Road Transport”.

October 16, 2025, Liaoning — A major initiative focusing on Asian regional transport integration officially set sail today at the 2025 Liaoning Transport Corridor Supply Chain Supply-Demand Matching Conference. Prof. (Dr.) Thomas Sim, the elected President of FIATA  (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) , attended and witnessed the launch ceremony of the CAREC-ASEAN International Transport Alliance, jointly spearheaded by the CAREC Federation of International Logistics and Commerce Associations (CFILCA) and the ASEAN Federation of Forwarders Associations (AFFA). The alliance brings together over 20 authoritative logistics associations from Central Asia and ASEAN regions, aiming to build an efficient transport and supply chain network spanning these two major economic zones. Dr. Sim's participation underscores FIATA's high regard for cross-regional cooperation and standardization innovation.

The International Freight Forwarding Branch of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing was invited to send representatives to attend the launch ceremony of the new alliance. During the meeting, they jointly conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions with two major regional international industry organizations (the CAREC and ASEAN regions) regarding the establishment of the new alliance. This move further demonstrates the active support of China's industry organizations for regional transportation integration and mutual recognition of standards.

A Groundbreaking Alliance: Collaboratively Breaking Down Transport Barriers

During the launch ceremony, President Sim emphasized that the establishment of the CAREC-ASEAN International Transport Alliance is one of the key achievements. The alliance is committed to opening up logistics channels between the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program and ASEAN, addressing the long-standing issue of legal fragmentation in international road transport through standardized documents, unified liability rules, and insurance mechanisms."Cross-regional cooperation is no longer an option but an imperative," Dr. Sim stated in his speech. "The CAREC and ASEAN cover some of the world's most promising markets, but connectivity barriers in transport chains constrain trade potential. The establishment of this alliance will promote the synergy of infrastructure, policies, and business practices, injecting new momentum into global supply chain resilience."

Innovative Document System: Unified Consignment Note and Smart Appendixes

A major breakthrough of the alliance is the forthcoming issuance of the General Terms and Conditions for International Road freight Transport in the CAREC - ASEAN region and the supporting Common CAREC - ASEAN  Road Consignment note. This proposed alternative document system was observed by Dr. Sim and spearheaded by CFILCA and AFFA. Its design draws on the CIM/SMGS consignment note model used for China-Europe Railway Express and innovatively adopts a "Unified Consignment Note + Activatable Appendixes" mechanism:

Intelligent Flexibility: A checkbox on the front of the consignment note can automatically activate rule appendixes applicable to specific regions (e.g., the Greater Mekong Subregion - GMS), offering "one document for the entire region, with intelligent rule switching."

Cross-Border Application of Legal Technology: Incorporating the "Incorporation Clause" practice from maritime transport, complex liability rules are embedded into the transport contract through a simple document, ensuring legal validity while enhancing operational efficiency.

It is hoped that this design directly addresses the core pain points of lacking unified liability rules and insurance mechanisms between CMR convention contracting and non-contracting states, as well as among non-contracting states themselves, providing legal certainty for cross-border road transport.

Roundtable: Discussing Cooperation Pathways and Implementation Strategies

At the afternoon roundtable which was chaired by Dr. Sim, discussions focused on six key topics related to the alliance's implementation and regional synergy:

l Co-building CAREC Sea Access Points: Exploring the feasibility of Central Asian countries accessing global shipping routes via ports in Northeast China and ASEAN.

l Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor: Analysing challenges related to infrastructure, tariff policies, and intermodal connectivity, proposing public-private partnership paths.

l Enhancing the International Voice of Non-Governmental Organizations: Calling for regional organizations to play a greater role in international standard setting.

l Alliance Implementation: Clarifying plans for pilot routes, document promotion, and member responsibility allocation.

l Value of Regional Standardization: Emphasizing the critical importance of regional unified standards for reducing transaction costs and enhancing supply chain transparency.

l Innovative Training and Talent Development: Proposing the establishment of a joint FIATA-CAREC-ASEAN certification mechanism to cultivate cross-regional professionals.

President Sim noted, "Standardization is the bridge connecting physical infrastructure with business practices. CFILCA has already issued 35 regional standards. This cooperation with ASEAN will further expand the mutual recognition of standards."

Empowering Regional Standards for Global Reach

CFILCA and AFFA committed during the meeting to maintain consultation with FIATA, leveraging its global network to promote the CAREC-ASEAN standard system. It is hoped that FIATA's future guidance will lend international credibility to regional standards but will also facilitate their adoption in broader regions through its training systems and policy advocacy platforms.

"The transformation of regional standards into global practice depends on the coordination capacity of international organizations," President Sim concluded.

Outlook: Towards a New Era of Integrated Transport

The launch of the CAREC-ASEAN International Transport Alliance marks a new stage in Asian regional cooperation, shifting from "corridor construction" to "rule integration". This initiative has the potential to become a model for cross-regional governance, providing a standardized foundation for the digital and low-carbon transformation of global supply chains.

As Dr. Thomas Sim stated, "When the checkbox on our unified consignment note is ticked, it illuminates the future of cross-border trade for countless businesses."