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ASEM Transport Ministers adopt Riga Declaration to foster closer cooperation in the field of...
On 29-30 April, the 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting took place in Riga and resulted in the adoption of the Riga Declaration. ASEM member countries committed themselves to fostering closer cooperation in the field of transport, establishing an integrated, sustainable and efficient land transportation system, including intermodal solutions, between Asia and Europe.
"European transport policy must not be restricted to the development of Europe's internal transport system and its linkages with its immediate neighbourhood. Instead it must be updated to fully reflect the globalised nature of cross-border supply chain management, especially between the world's two largest trading partners – Europe and Asia," stressed Latvian Minister for Transport Anrijs Matīss.
Violeta Bulc, the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport stated: "We all face common challenges and opportunities when speaking about 'connectivity'. Therefore I invite all ASEM members to join our efforts towards a sustainable and integrated transport system which will bring advantages for all our citizens. In this sense, 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."
The Ministers discussed the importance of a common vision for the development of transport networks between Asia and Europe and emphasised the significance of connectivity between the two regions for achieving economic prosperity and sustainable development.
During the meeting, 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.
The importance of transcontinental railway transport links was highlighted at the meeting. Railway transport is regarded as an environment-friendly mode of transport between Asia and Europe and is rapidly gaining in popularity. 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.
The President of Latvia, Andris Bērziņš, made the opening speech at the meeting, which brought together ASEM Transport Ministers, the European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat, international institutions (the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), the Organisation for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), and the European Investment Bank), the non-governmental sector, academia and the business community. The latter encompassed global lead logistics providers and global/regional transport and logistics companies (national rail operators, road hauliers, logistics centre operators, sea and dry ports), big brand manufacturers and cargo owners (in the electronics, automotive, textile and other sectors).
The two-day event included a closed ministerial round-table meeting and several high-profile panel discussions. The ministers and stakeholders analysed the development of land-based transport connectivity between Asia and Europe with a particular emphasis on the possibilities for, and development of, multimodal transport in the transport corridors connecting these two continents.
The 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting was organised by the Ministry of Transport of Latvia under the auspices of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Press conference following the meeting (in English)
Videos from the meetingwww.youtube.com
Contact
ROLANDS RUMBA
Expert in communication
+371 67028390
+371 22006853
rolands.rumba@sam.gov.lv
