Lithuania, Belarus and China will cooperate in the development of the initiative of the East-West transport corridor.

Lithuania, Belarus and China will cooperate in the development of the initiative of the East-West transport corridor. This is provided by the joint declaration (Declaration), which was signed by Eligijus Masiulis, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania, Ivan Shcherbo, Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Belarus, and Li Shenglin, Minister of Transport of the People's Republic of China, yesterday after the tripartite meeting at ASEM 2009, held in Vilnius for the first time.
 
"In technical and administrative regard, strong transport links of countries make crucial influence on their economic growth and improvement of transportation and trade relations. Therefore we have foreseen inviting all neighbouring countries, as well as those situated along the East-West transport corridor to join the common initiative for the creation of opportunities for competitive international transportation of goods" - said Eligijus Masiulis, Lithuania’s Minister of Transport and Communications. 
 
In the Declaration the Ministers emphasized the necessity for strengthening the cooperation between Asia and Europe in the development of transport infrastructure needed for land transport links and undertaking joint measures of transport policy, following the principles of transparency, mutual reliance and indiscrimination. 
 
Emphasizing the economic importance of the East-West transport corridor, the Ministers confirmed their objectives for creation of the transport system accessible to all countries involved and linking two continents - Asia and Europe. This corridor will provide a competitive transport and logistics chain for carriage of goods. 
 
The Ministers agreed on making efforts for closer cooperation of transport and logistics sector providing the basis for mutual trade and transport relations between Asia and Europe.