Malta fully supports the Riga Declaration which, while stressing the need to address the challenges in the development of land-based transport connectivity solutions between Europe and Asia, recognises the importance of multimodal transport in particular, by complementing terrestrial routes with traditional maritime routes.

During the third ASEM Transport Ministers’ meeting, which is being held in Riga, Latvia, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Joe Mizzi said that the Riga Declaration demonstrates commitment made by ASEM Member States and should provide direction to strengthen multimodal and intermodal supply chain connections between the two continents at every level.

During his intervention, Minister Joe Mizzi said that Malta has participated in all three ASEM transport meetings and as an island member state of the EU, with firmly established maritime links with Asia, ASEM offers an excellent opportunity for further cooperation between the two regions in the field of transport at a regional level.

“In today’s globalised world, where regional economic growth and trade depend largely on the provision of seamless transport networks and services, we cannot afford to allow transport to act as a regional barrier. Instead, we need to work towards overcoming any such barriers by ensuring that efficient transport links act as the catalyst for increasing levels of trade and co-operation between our two regions. The development and enhancement of multimodal linkages between the two regions will be instrumental in increasing this efficiency and creating additional capacity in the Euro-Asian corridors of transport,” Minister Mizzi said.

He stressed that it is widely acknowledged that both rail and maritime modes are the greenest forms of transport and Malta firmly believes that these two modes should be equally promoted to ensure sustainable, seamless, timely and cost effective connectivity between the two regions. “In order for this to happen, we need to work towards removing any existing and potential physical, administrative and technological bottlenecks. This declaration provides a basis for this to be achieved through regional dialogue and co-operation.”