OREANDA-NEWS. On October 24, 2008 Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, during his working visit to Beijing, capital city of the People’s Republic of China, to participate in the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, met Liu Zhijun, Minister of Railways of the PRC, reported the Official website www.mk.gov.lv.

The officials discussed bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation in the area of transport and logistics and shared the view that it is necessary to further develop and strengthen contacts of railway administration of both countries for mutual benefit.

The sides also address the progress in the project of the New Silk Road. The Latvian Prime Minister urged the Chinese side to consider opportunities for more active development of the Eurasian trans-continental bridge by using the advantages of Latvian ports and infrastructure.

 At the same time the Prime Minister also acknowledged the significant role of Chinese transport companies in the implementation of this project by emphasising the importance of the visit of the management of the largest Chinese transport company SINOTRANS to Latvia planned in the near future. Ivars Godmanis expressed his belief that practical cooperation issues should be solved within the bilateral railway working group whose meeting is scheduled to take place in Riga in the nearest future.

The Chinese Minister of Railways confirmed China’s interest in developing the above project and expressed his conviction that the bilateral working group will deliver practical result. Minister Liu Zhijun noted that the Chinese Government pays special attention to the development of its railway infrastructure. Liu Zhijun informed Ivars Godmanis with China’s railway development plans and made a special remark on the East-West section linking the developed cities at the eastern coast of China with country’s northern part and making a further link with Kazakhstan, Russia and the Baltic Sea region.