News

On 26 May in Hanoi, during the meeting of foreign ministers from the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) countries, Lithuania’s head of diplomacy Vygaudas Ušackas and his counterparts discussed the possibilities for a more active cooperation between the European and Asian countries in tackling global challenges of the crisis.

Minister V.Ušackas highlighted the importance of consolidation of the free trade between the European and Asian countries, also the significance of the sectors of transport and logistics in promoting the economic exchange between the two regions.

“In today’s economic situation it is necessary to devote special attention to and seek for a general agreement in solving the issues of economy development. ASEM can play an important role in creating a gradually developing system of transport, which would secure an effective exchange of goods between the European and Asian countries,” said Minister, while presenting the forthcoming first ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting on 19-20 October in Vilnius.

Minister V.Ušackas also emphasized the importance of business in developing transport exchange between Europe and Asia, and invited the ASEM countries to participate actively in the Asia-Europe Business Forum, which will take place in Vilnius at the same time as the Transport Ministers’ Meeting.

“While solving the issues of transport, we should not limit ourselves just to the borders of ASEM members, but should also involve neighbouring regions,” stated Minister V.Ušackas and stressed that the representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus would take part in the Business Forum in Vilnius.

Participants of the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting made a statement, which positively assessed Lithuania’s initiative to organise the first ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Vilnius and to open up an official ASEM dialogue in the sphere of transport.

On 26 May, Minister V.Ušackas visited Vietnam’s Transport Ministry, where he met with Vietnamese Transport Vice Minister Ngo T.Duc and discussed the issues of the forthcoming first ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Vilnius, a possible bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of transport.

Minister V.Ušackas also met with Foreign Minister of Singapore Georg Yeo, Brunei Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Foreign Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, head of the Mongolian delegation, state secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tsogtbaatar Damdin. During the meetings, issues of bilateral economic cooperation and cooperation in international organisations such as the UN and UNESCO were discussed.

On 27 May, Minister V.Ušackas flies to Cambodia, where he will take part in the 17th ASEAN – EU Ministerial Meeting.