The agreement on the Asian highway network came into force Monday, a great step forward to complete the 141,000 kilometer-long standard roadways that span 32 Asian countries with linkage to Europe.

"The agreement's entry into force marks a major milestone in regional cooperation that will substantially promote opportunities for increased trade and tourism," Kim Hak-su, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), said in Bangkok Monday in a video message to celebrate the event.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network, the first treaty developed under the auspices of the UNESCAP since 1959, stipulates basic technical standards for the roads and the route signs. It also sets into place a negotiating mechanism for amendments of the network.

Currently, upgrading and further improving the network are main considerations underlying the agreement since 16 percent of the network is still below the agreed minimum standard, said Kim.

To fill in the shortfall of 18 billion US dollars for upgrading the highways, UNESCAP is working with member states and international finance institutions to raise the funds.

Zhang Chunxian, minister of communications of China, said in a written message that the agreement's entry into force provided a common platform for international road transport cooperation among countries in the region and will significantly enhance economic integration and promote trade links and social progress in the region.

It also demonstrate the will of the participating countries to accelerate their road infrastructure development and strengthen regional transport cooperation, he added.

Since 1992, UNESCAP has been negotiating routes and road specifications for the Asian highway network. In April 2004, a total of 26 Asian countries signed the agreement in Shanghai, China, during the 60th Commission Session of UNESCAP. So far, 27 out of 32 participating states have sign the treaty, among which 10 countries have ratified it.