“Lithuania emphasizes the importance of further extension of the Trans European Transport network. It could be implemented through the regional cooperation projects such as the New Silk Road putting the major focus on financing of infrastructure and removing the physical and administrative bottlenecks on border crossing between the European and Asian countries for overland transport,” said Vice-Minister Arijandas Šliupas.

According to the Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, the New Silk Road could bring about a new economic landscape of China and become an essential aspect in ensuring economic cooperation with the European countries.

The aim of this project is to arrange international train paths for freight trains in order to establish a smooth transit as well as integrate the rail freight services with road, maritime, inland waterways and air services and facilitate border-crossing procedures.

According to Arijandas Šliupas, China is becoming a very important player in the international system, whereas Central and Eastern European countries are becoming the engine of the European growth.  Therefore, the more efficient use of common capacities when developing the Euro-Asian railway network could bring the Euro-Asian rail logistics project to a reality faster.