Speeches

Address by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, at the ASEM Transport Ministers' Meeting in Vilnius

Excellencies Ministers,
Dear Participants of the Conference,

I am delighted that the initiative put forward by Lithuania back in 2007 - to invite ASEM and basic transport and logistics partners from other countries to a high-level meeting - has been realized. Until now ASEM would bring together foreign, economic, finance, and culture ministers and experts. Today we are launching a new stage in ASEM activities. The most prominent transport representatives from Europe and Asia have gathered here in Lithuania. This initiative would have been impossible without the support of all ASEM countries, particularly China that together with Lithuania is hosting the forum.

In today's global world, transport and communication networks represent an area which, in broad terms, signifies the common goals of all countries as well as their interdependence. It is only by working together and building transport systems that world nations can develop their economies, ensure the movement of people and improve their relationships.

o An efficient and well-developed transport system not only promotes the movement of people, but it also encourages the spread of ideas and advances understanding and trust among all citizens. Transport helps overcome trans-boundary differences.

o In respect of foreign policy, effective transport corridors forge closer cooperation ties between the neighboring states and also between geographically distanced countries.

o In general, transport is the driving force behind the economy: it encourages healthy competition and secures a more sustainable regional and even global development.

This forum is therefore greatly important to us because Lithuania seeks active participation in developing global and regional transport policies, improving its image as a transit country, attracting cargo flows from Europe and Asia, and most importantly securing the freedom of movement for its citizens across the continent.

This is transport diplomacy which, differently from other foreign and international economic policies, requires collective, not unilateral actions. Therefore I wish you fruitful and productive work.

I firmly believe that transport development ideas, strategies and objectives will be placed at the foundation of the European and Asian transport diplomacy and that they will be successfully implemented.

Once again, I wish you interesting and constructive discussions!