AGENDA Riga, Latvia May 16-17

Transcription

1 AGENDA Riga, Latvia May Venue: Hotel Radisson BLU Latvia Language: English Monday, May 16 Ministerial meeting (official delegations only) 12:00-12:20 Arrival (Official handshake with the host Hall 2) 12:20-14:00 Lunch (Seated lunch for Heads of Delegation (Lambda Hall), buffet lunch for other participants Hall 2) 14:30-17:00 Ministerial meeting (Hall Omega 2) As the first introductory meeting of 16+1 format transport ministers, the ministerial session is intended to provide the Heads of Delegation with the opportunity to introduce the country and inform of country s expectations as regards the cooperation with China under '12 Measures' initiative framework actively exploring new ways to increase mutual investment and trade and promoting cooperation in transportation and logistics. Opening Remarks by the Minister of Transport of Latvia Keynote Speech by the Minister of Transport of the PRC (on 16+1 initiative, interests of the PRC, experience, expectations) Presentation of the concept and mechanism of 16+1 format logistics sector coordination Interventions by Heads of Delegation (up to 5 min for each country) Adoption of Riga Guidelines 17:00 Ministerial Family Photo Hall Omega 2 17:00-19:00 leisure time/time available for bilateral meetings/sightseeing Rooms are available for bilateral meetings. Guided leisurely walk around the Old Town in small groups possible. More details provided in Practical Information sheet 1

2 19:00-21:00 Dinner Reception (for all participants) Halls Omega 1 &Omega 2 Tuesday, May 17 (Business Conference) Participants: Official delegations and business representatives 8:00-8:30 Arrival and registration, coffee Hall Omega 1 Discussion topics: - Cooperation possibilities in transport and logistics between China and CEE countries; - One Belt One Road-The Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road opportunities; - Investment project possibilities in transport and logistics between China and CEE countries; - Dedicated container trains connecting China with Europe and logistic opportunities. The concept of the Business Conference is to provide all 16+1 format member states (both ministries and business representatives) with the opportunity to present their logistic sector advantages, expectations, views as regards cooperation between China and CEEC. Each country is expected to nominate 1 or 2 representatives (from ministries, or from business environment) to participate in speakers capacity. However, please, mind that total time allowed for one country s presentation shall not in total exceed 15 min 8:30-10:00 Session 1-6 presentations, 15 min each 10:00-10:15 Coffee Break 10:15-11:45 Session 2-6 presentations, 15 min each 11:45-12:00 Coffee Break 12:00-13:30 Session 3-5 presentations, 15 min each 13:30-14:00 Press Conference Lambda Hall 13:30-15:00 Buffett Lunch Hall Omega 2 or Hall 2 15:00-17:00 Business to Business (B to B) Matchmaking opportunities are offered to business representatives. The list of the enterprises participating at the business forum will be made available as soon as possible. Please, don t hesitate to inform the organizers of your intention to join the conference. More details on practical arrangements will be provided in Practical Information sheet 2

3 Venue: Hotel Radisson BLU Latvia Language: English PRACTICAL INFORMATION Riga, Latvia May Host Ministry The Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia is the host ministry for the 1 st Central and Eastern Europe Countries China (16+1) Transport Ministers Meeting and Business Conference. Contact persons responsible for the event: Ms Elīna Luca-Ratfeldere Ms Ginta Feldmane Deputy Director Transit Policy Department Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia Phone: cceec-riga-tmm@sam.gov.lv Senior expert Transit Policy Department Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia Phone: cceec-riga-tmm@sam.gov.lv Date and Venue 1 st Central and Eastern Europe Countries China (16+1) Transport Ministers Meeting and the Business Conference will be held on May 2016 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvia 2 nd floor Conference and Events Centre hall Omega. Address: 55 Elizabetes Street, Riga, LV-1010, Latvia Phone: Hotel Riga - Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, Riga 3

4 Bilateral meetings In order to encourage networking among the 16+1 member states, the organizers will provide an opportunity to meet bilaterally. In addition, the 16+1 participants are invited to take the opportunity to organize brief meetings to discuss the progress made to date as well as further cooperation. The Minister/Head of Delegation List and Contact Person List will be made available starting from 5 May Participants are kindly invited to make a room reservation request by filling in the meeting room request form (see ANNEX 1). The Ministry would highly appreciate receiving completed registration forms at your earliest convenience or latest by 10 May 2016 at cceec-riga-tmm@sam.gov.lv to enable us to facilitate the meeting arrangements. Hospitality All Ministers/heads of delegations and delegates are cordially invited to join Dinner Reception at Radisson Blu Hotel Latvia hall Omega on 16 May 2016 at Registration Online registration for the event will be open until 9 May Delegations are encouraged to register as soon as possible to make sure there is enough time for all the necessary travel arrangements to be made. Size of the delegation for the event is 1+2 (+interpreter) format. Since the working language of the event is English, delegation are welcome to bring interpreters with them in case of necessity. Participants will be able to collect their identification badges upon the arrival from organizers representative in the recommended hotel (Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija) or from the registration desk at the meeting s venue on 16 May, 2016.

5 Accommodation The host Ministry is covering the cost of accommodation up to two nights for the Heads of Delegations at the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija 4**** (Address: 55 Elizabetes Street, Riga, LV-1010). These rooms are booked by the Organizers and there is no need to contact the hotel directly. Please send the planned details of the stay in the hotel (arrival/ departure date and time) to the Please note, special price for Single and Double rooms are available till May 1st. For delegates for whom accommodation is not covered by the Organizers, a block reservation has been made at hotel Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, 4**** For hotel bookings, please follow this link: Booking hotel accommodation requires payment with a credit card. Accommodation costs for delegation members are not covered. Travel and getting around International travel expenses are not covered by organizers. Transport The Ministry will provide transport only from/to the airport for the Head of Delegation and delegates arriving with their Heads of Delegation. Please note that Head of Delegation and delegates (1+1) arriving with their Heads of Delegation will be met at the Airports VIP lounge and escorted to the hotel. Other participants (official delegation members) will be met at airport and escorted to the hotel. By air Riga International Airport (RIX) is located just 10 km from the city centre and is easily accessible by public transport or taxi. It offers routes to 83 destinations, including most European capitals and transfer hubs. Riga International Airport 10/1 RIGA Airport Mārupe district Riga, LV-1053, Latvia Airport inquiries service: From the airport to the city Getting to the city centre from the airport takes ~25-30 minutes by public transport or taxi. 5

6 Taxi services are available at Riga airport 24 hours a day and are located outside the arrivals area. The average fare from the airport to the city centre (Old Town) is Public transport bus No 22 connects the airport with the city centre. The bus stop is located behind car park P1 opposite Arrival E. The service operates up to every 15 minutes from Mondays to Fridays and up to every 20 minutes on Saturdays and Sundays. It can take up to 30 minutes to reach the centre. More information and the schedule for bus No 22 can be found here: Bus and taxi stops at the airport Single journey tickets can be bought from the driver and cost 2.00 (cash only). Travel documents and visa applications Latvia is a Member State of European Union and a signatory of the Schengen Agreement. Accordingly, those arriving in Latvia from the Schengen Area are not subject to border controls. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can travel with their national ID card or passport. Nationals of other countries are required to have a valid passport. Latvia has signed many visa-free agreements. If you need to obtain a visa, please check the website for further guidelines. Visa can be obtained at the Latvian Embassy or at the Diplomatic and Consular Mission of another Schengen Member State issuing visas on behalf of Latvia. To see the list, please follow the link above. To simplify the process, as soon as possible please fill in all the required information in the table below and together with a scanned Passport copy send it to address: cceec-riga-tmm@sam.gov.lv. In Subject line please indicate: VISA Formalities for Country name delegation Name, Surname Citizenship Type of passport (ordinary, official, diplomatic, etc.) Type of visa (singe/multiple entry) Name of employer and job title Name of the Embassy where you plan to apply for the visa 6

7 The contact persons at the host Ministry would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Conference venue facilities and services IT services and support Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija provides Free High-speed Internet. Wireless internet access (WiFi) is available throughout the venue. Staff at the venue will be available to provide technical and IT support. Medical care Please fill in the health section at the online registration system and include a list of dietary and other restrictions where indicated during registration. Delegates are strongly recommended to check the expiration date of their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In cases of emergency, call 112 or 113. Health Insurance To ensure that the costs of emergency care are covered during the stay in Latvia, delegates are advised to arrange a travel medical insurance. Citizens of European Union, Lichtenstein, Norway and the Swiss Confederation benefit from European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It covers state-run healthcare. The EHIC ensures that the necessary and urgent medical care is given to the same extent as is provided to the country's residents, where patient is receiving a medical help. EHIC can be obtained free of charge by contacting local health insurance institution as each individual country is responsible for producing and distributing the card in its own territory. Learn more about EHIC Citizens from other countries have to choose travel insurance from their local insurance providers. Persons with disabilities Facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities and assistance will be provided if needed. Please note that Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija have available specialized rooms for persons with disabilities. More information about location accessibility for people with disabilities can be obtained on organization s Apeirons webpage ( ) underneath section: Accessibility Map. Interpretation Ministers Meeting and Conference will be conducted in English. About Riga 7

8 Riga is the capital of Latvia. Officially founded in 1201, the city presents a mix of cultures and architectural styles developed throughout different historical periods. The Daugava, also referred to as the River of Destiny by Latvians, flows through Riga into the Gulf of Riga about 10 kilometres from the city centre. Because of its location and harbour the biggest harbour among the Baltic countries - Riga has developed into a significant transportation hub. Riga has always been a dynamic and innovative centre, and remains to this day a vibrant and lively city with a host of creative quarters to explore. It is therefore with good reason that Riga has been called the city of inspiration. Enjoy a leisurely walk around the Old Town the historic centre of Riga, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and its surroundings. Useful information about Riga can be found on About Latvia Weather: Latvia s geographical location makes it possible to enjoy the differences of four pronounced seasons. The presence of the Baltic Sea means that the climate is temperate and humid. Winter lasts from mid-december until mid-march, with an average temperature of around 6 C. January and February are usually the coldest months of the year when the temperature may drop to 25 C for days. Spring, with average temperatures of above 0 C, comes at the end of March. April is sunny but can be unpredictable and full of surprises (including the possibility both of late snow and temperatures of +25 C). May is usually sunny and warm, as is June. For the latest forecast, please visit: Language: Latvian is the official language of the Republic of Latvia. English and Russian are widely spoken. Local time: Latvia Time is GMT+2 (from late March until late October Latvia participates in the Western European summer time scheme: GMT+3) Currency: Latvia s currency is the euro ( ).Other currencies can be exchanged for euros at most banks and exchange offices located in the city centre and at the airport. ATMs and credit cards: there are many automated teller machines (ATMs) in the city and all major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Useful numbers Dial code for Latvia: +371 Emergency: call 112, the EU-wide emergency number for the police, fire and ambulance services Alternatively, call: Police: 110 or 112 Medical service: 113 Fire service: 112 Gas emergency: 114 Useful information Useful information about Latvia can be found on and Mobile phone application to learn more about Latvia: Latvia.Travel. 8

9 ANNEX 1 Meeting room request form 1 st China Central and Eastern Europe 16+1 Transport Ministers Meeting and the Business Conference MEETING ROOM REQUEST FORM (bilateral meetings, networking) Meeting venue: Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, 55 Elizabetes Street, Riga, Latvia Delegation s Details: Country Name of the delegation s contact person Ministry/ Department or organization Contact details The Ministry is requesting to have a meeting with the Ministry/-ies and/or organizations as stated below: Participating Delegation/-s Details: Name of the Country delegation contact person Ministry/ Department or Organization Contact details Meeting Room Request Details: Date 16 May 17 May Time Number of required chairs Special request (if any) Please take into account that the optimal length of each meeting on 16 and 17 May is 30 minutes. If necessary and provided that booking is made by the deadline, the meeting can last up to one hour. Confirmation of the meeting room booking will be sent to all participating delegations electronically, including information of room arrangement and meeting time. However, in case of cancellation of the meeting, the ministry/organization requesting the meeting should notify us immediately by cceecriga-tmm@sam.gov.lv Please note that the meeting rooms will be assigned under the first come first served system. Thus, the Ministry is looking forward to and would be highly appreciative of receiving your completed registration forms at your earliest convenience or latest by 12 May 2016 enabling us to facilitate meeting arrangements. 9