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"I believe that the first ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting, which will be held in Vilnius, will give a considerable impetus for the cooperation of countries of both continents and will facilitate the establishment of safe, efficient transport corridors on the East-West axis" - said Eligijus Masiulis, Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania. 

The Minister thanked the Ambassador for the active assistance in the preparation for the ASEM Meeting. He expressed the hope that the approaching high-level international meeting will stimulate a long-term mutual cooperation of Lithuania and China in the field of transport.

The first ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting, which is organized by the initiative of Lithuania and will be held on 19-20 October, will host participants from 43 countries of both continents. At the same time in Vilnius will be held the Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum. Ambassador Mingtao Tong assured that the Transport Ministry of China will make efforts to invite representatives of largest Chinese companies to attend the Forum in Vilnius.  

Minister Eligijus Masiulis and Ambassador Mingtao Tong have also discussed on the planned continuation of cooperation between Lithuania and China after the ASEM events. In this regard the issue of signing the Memorandum of Understanding of transport ministers of China and Lithuania have been discussed, as well as common actions in creation of efficient traffic links between the East and the West.   

The objective of the ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting - to generate a common vision of cooperation between Asia and Europe in the field of transport, and readiness for challenges of European and Asian trade relations. The agenda of the Transport Development Forum will include the analysis of most important trends of the global economy and international transport and logistics business, as well as the discussions regarding the attitude of the business to the demands of Europe and Asia for transport infrastructure and investments required for the development of this infrastructure, and analysis of the opportunities for application of Public and Private Partnership principle.   

Participants of the above events will be transport ministers of ASEM member states (27 EU member states and 16 Asian countries, including China, Japan, India, Korea, Singapore and other countries), high-level officials of the European Commission, representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat, representatives of European and Asian transport and logistics companies, international finance institutions and numerous international and regional institutions.