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Today, in Vilnius, has started the first ever in the world Asia-Europe Transport Ministers' Meeting (ASEM), which is attended by delegations of 35 countries of both continents, as well as high-level officials of the European Commission, and senior officials of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat.

Participants of the ASEM Meeting have been welcomed by Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, Eligijus Masiulis, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, Li Shenglin, Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China. The first speaker in the Meeting will be Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the European Commission, EU Commissioner for Transport.

"It is an exceptional honour for me to welcome you all in the first meeting of ministers of transport of EU member States and Asian countries - said Minister Eligijus Masiulis during the opening of the Meeting. - our countries have different transport systems, different opportunities and even perhaps certain different ambitions. Nevertheless, in this Meeting we should strive to create a common vision reflecting the cooperation of Asia and Europe in the field of transport and get ready for coordinated actions directed to the strengthening of trade links between Europe and Asia." 

According to the Minister, the coordinated development of transport links of both continents, promoted by the European Union and United Nations, may become an effective instrument for meeting challenges of the present time. Rapid growth of trade relations motivate the countries of Europe and Asia to focus on the search of efficient transport solutions.    

During the latter five years the rate of trade between EU member states and the regions of the Middle and East Asia were growing continuously. This process was going together with the growth of the importance of Trans-continental transport system, the role of which was the adequate maintenance of economic growth dynamics. These processes have a significant influence not only on the development of separate countries, but on the growth of regions as well. As an example, the Minister has pointed out the Baltic Sea region, the countries of which are extremely rapidly modernising their transport infrastructure, and developing actively their trade relations, so step by step acquiring an important role in the activities of global logistics.       

The First Asia-Europe Transport Ministers' Meeting (ASEM) is taking place on 19-20 October in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. During the Meeting such topics will be discussed, as: the vision of future Eurasian transport system, priority trends of transport policy and fields of cooperation. Also special sessions will be held on civil aviation, maritime and intermodal transport, as well as bilateral meetings of Transport Ministers of various countries will be held.   

On October 20, at the end of the Meeting, Transport Ministers of both continents will sign the joint Vilnius Declaration. The Declaration will also be supplemented by conclusions of the Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum held also today in Vilnius, and by concrete proposals of business representatives regarding the development of transport system. 

Additional information

ASEM

ASEM or Asia-Europe Meeting - it is in the year 1996 initiated informal dialogue on the cooperation process between Asian countries and EU member states. The objective of the cooperation comprises the strengthening of Inter-continental relations and enhancement of mutual understanding. ASEM promotes the partnership of Asian and EU countries in three areas: political, economic and social/cultural.

The first ASEM Summit was held by the initiative of Singapore in 1996, in Bangkok (Thailand). Lithuania became an ASEM member in 2004, during the ASEM Summit in Hanoi (Vietnam).

ASEM partners:

• 27 EU member states and the European Commission,
• 16 Asian countries (Birma/Mianmar, Brunei, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Cambodia, China, Laos, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam),
• Secretariat of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEM activities

ASEM activities are organised by regular meetings of heads of states, foreign affairs ministers and ministers of other sectors, as well as other thematic events arranged by the initiative of ASEM member states. Europe-Asia Meetings of state heads are held every two years (in Bangkok 1996, London 1998, Seul 2000, Copenhagen 2002, Hanoi 2004, Helsinki 2006, Beijing 2008, and in Brussels will be held in 2010).

Periodically are also held meetings of ministers of foreign affairs, economy and finance.

ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting is held on 19-20 October in Vilnius (Lithuania). Such meeting is held for the first time.

Lithuanian initiative

The First ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting and Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum are held by the initiative of Lithuania. By this initiative Lithuania seeks active participation in the formation of global and regional policy, and to strengthen the image of Lithuania as a transit country in the global markets, as well as to attract freight flows from Asian countries, thus generating the value added of all transport sectors and general economy of Lithuania.

As a matter of ASEM routine, a country that has raised an initiative is usually assisted by other countries. According to the general working order of ASEM, a country consenting to be a supporter of ASEM member state's initiative, takes obligations to assist in organising the event and participates in the event on the highest official level. The Lithuanian initiative was joined by China, Singapore, Vietnam, Sweden, Germany, Poland and the European Commission, which is a permanent coordinator of the ASEM process. The above countries are called "Friend's Group".  

Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum

Together with the ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting, on 19 October 2009, in Vilnius is also held Asia-Europe Transport Development Forum, the aim of which is the strengthening of relations between Asian and European business representatives and academic circles. In the Forum, business representatives will discuss topical issues of Asia-Europe cooperation in Transport and logistics sectors, define priority projects, identify the main investment demands of governments, will search for the best solutions for financing of principal infrastructure projects in the sectors of transport and logistics. The Ministry of Transport and Communications organises this Forum together with the organiser of international events, "Mare Forum". The partners in organizing of the Transport Development Forum are: the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).    

2009-10-19