“Stationing of the US troops on our land is symbolically important in giving a signal to the public about the presence of our allies,” said the President of Latvia during conversation with the Ambassador. The officials also discussed the defence budget of Latvia that one intended to increase gradually up to 2% of GDP by the end of 2018. Having appreciated such intention of Latvia, Mrs. Nancy Bikoff Pettit stressed that this would be a strong and positive signal to the NATO allies.
The President of Latvia outlined that events in Ukraine also showed the need to strengthen strategic communication skills. Opening of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Riga and the EU Strategic Communications Action Plan confirmed readiness thereof. Raimonds Vējonis expressed the willingness to cooperate in the field of mass media, including strengthening of investigative journalism and the Russian-speaking media space that the new US Ambassador assessed positively.
Considering effect of the sanctions against Russia, the President of Latvia called for strengthening the US and Latvian economic cooperation. In that regard, Mrs. Nancy Bikoff Pettit highlighted significance of the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) for creating new jobs and economic opportunities.
Similarly, in the context of current geopolitical situation in Europe, the President of Latvia reminded about the necessity to strengthen energy security, especially development of infrastructure, establishment of a functioning internal energy market, and diversification of supply sources. Raimonds Vējonis pointed to the potential for closer bilateral and regional cooperation with the USA in the field of energy.
The issues of security, strategic communications, and economic cooperation were also discussed during accreditation of the Ambassador of Denmark Mr. Hans Brask. The President of Latvia expressed his gratitude for the active contribution of Denmark in strengthening collective defence in the Baltic States, including frequent participation in the NATO Air Policing, as well as participation in international military exercises in Latvia. The President of Latvia also noted assistance in establishing the Media Centre of Excellence having the task to train journalists as an important contribution of Denmark and Nordic countries.
During accreditation of the Ambassador of China Mr. Huang Yong, the officials discussed economic cooperation between the two countries and opportunities to expand the latter. The President of Latvia emphasized recently opened market for the export of food products to China and called for China to invest in transport infrastructure in Latvia.
The officials discussed further prospects in the format of prime ministers’ cooperation “16+1” involving Prime Minister of China and Prime Ministers of 16 Central and Eastern European countries. President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis confirmed readiness of Latvia to assume a coordinating role in transportation and logistics. He also pointed out that convenient location of Riga might attract interest of many Chinese airlines wishing to expand their activities in the region. During the meeting, opportunities to increase a flow of tourists between the two countries and to promote cooperation in education and culture were also discussed.