Lithuanian PM expects bigger Chinese cargo transit volume

VILNIUS - Further development of bilateral relations between China and the European Union (EU) is in Lithuania's interest, particularly as regards cooperation on transport and logistics as this would allow an increase in Chinese cargo transit to the Baltic country, Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Monday.

In a statement released by his office, Skvernelis said that as for Lithuania's cooperation priorities between Central and Eastern Europe and China, the sectors of transport and logistics were highest, followed by agriculture, and then financial services and e-commerce.

Skvernelis's comments followed his participation in the sixth meeting of heads of government of China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) is underway in the Hungarian capital of Budapest.

He said that Lithuania had a well-developed infrastructure of transport services and railroads which could lead to increased transit of Chinese goods and higher trade volumes.

"Klaipeda sea port plays a particularly important role due to its geographical location. The port lays at the axis of European and Asian transport flows, therefore, the Lithuanian government is initiating large-scale development of the port," he said.