On Friday, November 4, Māris Kučinskis met with the Prime Minister of the People's Republic of China, Li Keqiang, who has arrived on an official visit to Riga and will later participate in 16+1 Summit. This is the first visit of the Prime Minister of China to Latvia.
During the bilateral meeting, the heads of both governments discussed issues regarding cooperation between Latvia and China in the fields of transport, logistics, trade, tourism and education.
M.Kučinskis highlighted that there is potential for the development of relationships between Latvia and China in every aspect of the cooperation. Also, he expressed satisfaction that several memoranda are being signed during the visit which will serve as a strong foundation for developing further cooperation.
At the same time, M.Kučinskis emphasized that Latvia is ready for cooperation with China in development of a transit project, as well as for China’s investments in the development of the infrastructure of ports and the strategic partnership for airline company Air Baltic and the airport Rīga.
Latvia also supports China’s initiatives One Belt, One Road and The Three Seas Initiative. The Prime Minister of Latvia expressed readiness to engage in both aforementioned initiatives by pointing out that Latvia can offer efficient, predictable and safe production, and a trade and logistics platform for both European and nearby CIS markets. “I am pleased that today we can sign such a comprehensive memorandum as One Belt, One Road,” said the Prime Minister.
M.Kučinskis underlined that Latvia is currently working actively to bring the fields of transit and logistics in line with modern logistics tendencies, thus achieving the diversification of transfer cargo as well as its inclusion into global delivery chains. The Prime Minister of China was given an example of how, by bringing together goods for the European markets and their distribution to Europe directly from Latvia, the enterprises from China could offer their production at a rate 5-6% cheaper on average which would mean essential competitiveness advantages both for China and Latvia.
After the bilateral meeting, the heads of both governments participated in the signing ceremony of six international agreements between the two countries. The officials signed the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiatives, the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation of Think Tanks, the Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between small and medium size enterprises, the agreement of using import certificates, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding for transport and logistics within the initiative One Belt, One Road.
On behalf of Latvia, the memoranda were signed by Minister of Economics Arvils Ašeradens, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs and Minister of Transport Uldis Augulis.
The Prime Minister of China will stay in Latvia until the morning of Sunday, November 6.
PHOTOS: Handshaking.
PHOTOS: Meeting.
PHOTOS: Signing ceremony
Additional information:
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv