On 29 September 2021, Minister of Transport of the Republic of Latvia Mr Talis Linkaits met with the Minister of Transport of the People’s Republic of China Mr Li Xiaopeng by video link.
At the meeting, Mr Li Xiaopeng extended an invitation for Mr Talis Linkaits to attend the 2nd United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Beijing. The conference will be held in a hybrid mode both on-site and online between 12-14 October 2021. The main theme of the conference is sustainable transport and development.
Then the ministers exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in transport and logistics. In 2016 Latvia hosted the first China-Central and Eastern European countries transport ministers meeting in Riga. Through consistent development of bilateral cooperation, connectivity between Latvia and China has improved.
“The Ministry of Transport of Latvia attaches great importance to international cooperation for the purposes to promote and develop greater multimodal transport connectivity, as well as diversify Latvia’s reliance on traditional cargo and passenger sources, to attract new flows and develop third market cooperation via Latvia”, said Mr Talis Linkaits. Minister noted with satisfaction the recent opening of the cargo route Riga - Hong Kong.
In the view of Mr Li Xiaopeng, Latvia has the potential to develop as a logistics transit hub in servicing cargo and passenger flows between Asia and Europe. “The Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China is willing to continue close policy coordination and cooperation with the Ministry of Transport of Latvia on railway, maritime, aviation, postal, multimodal and logistics cooperation,” said Li Xiaopeng.
Mr Talis Linkaits extended congratulations on the 72nd Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China and wished a Happy National Day holiday.