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Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė says that Lithuania has a good basis for work with China and Asia in the transport and logistics sector.

The Vice-Minister said this during the discussion entitled “Lithuania and China: the Potential of Transportation and Logistics” at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 October. The discussion was attended by representatives from Lithuanian state institutions and from businesses working with China. The discussion was moderated by Director of the Economic Security Policy Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Audrius Brūzga.

According to the Vice-Minister, the first Asia-Europe (ASEM) Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Lithuania, 2009, contributed a lot to the Lithuania-China relations in the transport sector. During the meeting, China was Lithuania’s main partner.

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is a process of dialogue, which brings together all the member states of the European Union with 20 countries of Asia and Oceania. At the initiative of the countries that participate in the process, specific European and Asian cooperation projects are implemented in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas.

Vice-Minister A.Skaisgirytė Liauškienė stressed that ASEM was not yet widely known, but it had to receive more attention, because over half of the world’s population live in ASEM countries, this region produces more than half of the world’s GDP and accounts for about 60 percent of world trade.

“In October, the 8th ASEM Summit of Heads of State and Government was held in Brussels, during the Summit Russia, Australia and New Zealand became new ASEM members. The membership of these countries, especially of Russia, will provide new opportunities for expanding the discussion on transport, in which Russia’s role is very important,” the Vice-Minister said.

According to the Vice-Minister, all that remained now was to exploit the opportunities, which were provided by the successfully established ties with China.

A few examples of cooperation with China were provided: as of 21 September Kaunas Airport receives transit goods from Shanghai that are then transported to Central and Eastern Europe, Klaipėda State Seaport successfully cooperates with China Road and Bridge Corporation, the East West Transport Corridor Association develops a concept of this corridor with the Euro-Asia Landbridge Logistics Association.

During the discussion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Baltic Vision Group presented its study entitled “Transport Development in Lithuania: China’s Potential” to the participants.

The discussion is part of the events of the China Days in Lithuania 2010. The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lithuania-China Forum are holding these events on 25-31 October.