Last week, a number of high-ranking officials from the Chinese capital of Beijing visited Riga, showing particular interest in the Port of Riga, says Freeport of Riga Authority. A delegation headed by the Vice Mayor Mr. Zhang Gong of the Chinese capital visited the Freeport of Riga. It was an opportunity for the Freeport of Riga Authority to present the Port of Riga as an effective transit hub for the transportation of Chinese container cargoes and as a good place for Chinese investment.
The guests from China met with the CEO of the Freeport of Riga Mr. Ansis Zeltins (Ansis Zeltiņš), got acquainted with the performance indicators of the Freeport of Riga, its infrastructure, services and development projects. The representatives of the city of Beijing were informed of the potential investment and cooperation opportunities in the Port of Riga.
During the meeting, the representatives of the Beijing Municipality confirmed that China attaches great importance to the logistics and transport development initiative “One Belt and One Road” (OBOR) or the New Silk Road. It is an ambitious multitrillion project aimed at the development of new, effective trade links with Asian, European and African countries. An important part of this initiative is the creation of new land routes, mainly railways, from China to Europe. It is important for the Port of Riga to become a part of the Northern branch of the New Silk Road as a convenient logistics center for the distribution of Chinese cargo in the Baltic region and Scandinavia.
“The Freeport of Riga definitely has the potential to play a significant role in Chinese “One Belt and One Road” project. It has both the necessary infrastructure and the initiative for a mutually beneficial cooperation. The Port of Riga connects sea and land transport routes, therefore, it should definitely become an important transit hub in the New Silk Road project”, said Mr. Gao Zhiyong, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Office of the Beijing Municipality, after the meeting.