Declaration on development of transport links between Europe and Asia signed in Riga
On 29-30 April, during the 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting which took place in the capital of Latvia, the Riga Declaration was signed, says press center of Lithuania’s Ministry of Transport and Communications. ASEM member countries committed themselves to fostering closer cooperation in the field of transport, establishing an integrated, sustainable and efficient multimodal transportation system between Asia and Europe.
“It is vital that proposals to improve transport connectivity between Europe and Asia incorporate all modes of transport. It is also vital to develop decarbonised and innovative transport solutions and to find synergies between the different national and regional plans, respecting the environment and market rules” said Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport
The Ministers discussed the importance of a common vision for the development of transport networks between Asia and Europe and emphasized the significance of connectivity between the two regions for achieving economic prosperity and sustainable development. In addition, emphasis was put on the urgent need to expand transport networks in order to accommodate the growing trade flows between Asia and Europe, especially in relation to Trans-Eurasian overland transport corridors as alternatives or supplements to the traditional ocean routes.
“High-quality integrated multimodal transport infrastructure is an important prerequisite in order to achieve our goals. Lithuania is ready to join efforts and contribute to transport and logistics projects and initiatives by providing efficient roads, railway and maritime services, logistics centres“ at the meeting said Rimantas Sinkevičius, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania.
Railway transport is regarded as an environment-friendly mode of transport between Asia and Europe and is rapidly gaining in popularity. Therefore, the meeting highlighted the importance of transcontinental railway transport links as well. The ASEM meeting therefore stressed that the emergence of Trans-Eurasian rail-based supply chains has been the impetus for a new wave of innovation in multimodal and intermodal logistics.
