立陶宛与中国在运输和物流领域的合作是其发展政策的重中之重，立陶宛运输体系发展的重要目标就是打造中国与欧盟间的桥梁，同时也能够成为中国新丝绸之路上的一个值得信赖的合作伙伴
文｜伊娜·玛邱罗尼塔（H. E. Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė）立陶宛共和国驻华大使 翻译｜王晓波
赞同并积极参与一带一路倡议
立陶宛非常赞同中国的一带一路倡议，并且相信它将带来的巨大潜力，因此，2017年11月，第六次中国—中东欧国家领导人会晤期间，立陶宛共和国政府与中国政府在丝绸之路经济带和二十一世纪海上丝绸之路倡议的框架内签署了谅解备忘录。
立陶宛与中国保持着非常友好的关系，两国高层间往来频繁，经济合作日益增加，两国共同参与了欧盟与中国的对话和16+1合作，两国民间也有着密切的互动。我们之间的双边合作是多方位的，并且是根据两国发展的优先考虑和需要制定的。
一带一路倡议旨在将各个经济体、团体和人民连接在一起，通过高质量的基础设施建设、包容性发展和经济合作，使各方都能获益。立陶宛认识到它完全符合两国的利益，因此会珍视其重大意义并且积极参与其中。
加强物流网络的发展
立陶宛非常重视并且愿意积极参与一带一路倡议，因为它对波罗地海区域的物流网络的发展极为重要。立陶宛一直在发展其自身铁路与公路的衔接、物流枢纽以及产业集群的规模，以满足未来之需。立陶宛与中国在运输和物流领域的合作是其发展政策的重中之重，因为立陶宛运输体系发展的重要目标就是打造中国与欧盟间的桥梁，同时也能够成为中国新丝绸之路上的一个值得信赖的合作伙伴。
立陶宛已经做出了坚定明确的规划，要通过克莱佩达港为海运货物提供必要的运输和物流链，通过联运站点为铁路货运提供同样的便利。立陶宛现有的基础设施为投资者提供了大量可靠、快速和高质量的物流选择，为其业务运营创造了便利的条件。
克莱比达港是波罗的海东部海岸唯一的不冻港，也是波罗的海诸国里最大的港口，年货物吞吐量达到6500万吨。它与东部内陆地区最重要的工业区（俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、乌克兰等）之间的距离最短，同时它也是连接欧洲各港口的主要船运线路。最新的信息技术提升了货物通过该港口的速度，使其更具竞争优势，也更简化了船舶代理和货运代理的工作。信息技术还确保了在港口经营的企业和机构之间电子数据的交换。
港口运输管理系统旨在对进出入港口的大小船只的航行过程进行自动化管理，统计港口税，将相关数据转发其他机构的信息系统，并且通过“单一窗口”的运作方式实现电子服务。
铁路货运服务直接将立陶宛与俄罗斯、白俄罗斯、拉脱维亚、波兰、德国、乌克兰和亚洲连接起来，其中也包括中国。比如，2017年9月，立陶宛铁路与周边国家和中铁国际多式联运有限公司（CRIMT）合作，开通了一条连接波兰和成都的新货运线路，而立陶宛恰好处于这一过境铁路走廊的一个非常独特的位置。
立陶宛注重铁路基础设施的现代化和发展，将其视为欧洲铁路系统成功运营的先决条件。而这其中优先考虑的则是对国际运输通道中的铁路基础设施进行翻新和升级，特别是确保立陶宛和欧洲铁路间的技术交流，使其能够符合当今安全与环保的需要，同时增加铁路的承载能力和运行速度，并且促进实现联合运输。最终的目标是通过使用最新的通信和警报技术、增加线路容量、列车速度和允许轴重以及实施能明显增加铁路网络吸引力的基础设施现代化项目，提供持续、便捷的运输服务。
立陶宛的国际航班可以在2-3小时内抵达欧洲各主要目的地。我们很高兴地注意到立陶宛与中国在民航领域展开了积极合作，旨在早日实现直航的目标。
投资和创业方面极具吸引力
为中国的投资者们在我们的自由经济区域内建立新的货物拆箱和拚箱站点以及工业园区也具有很大的发展潜力，因为通过立陶宛的海上和道路交通系统，它们可以为欧洲市场提供服务。
立陶宛是一个在投资和创业方面极具吸引力的地方。根据各种全球创新和竞争力排名，立陶宛是发展创新业务的理想之地。它的营商环境良好，程序简化，在确保利益最大化的同时又将麻烦或问题减至最少。由于成立企业所需的审批时间短，并且配备有电子政务管理的解决方案，因此立陶宛与德国和爱尔兰一同被列入宜于经商的国家名单。在立陶宛成立的公司可以享受到该地区最低的商业租金成本以及极其优惠的税收支持。
在立陶宛成立一个新公司通过网上办理只需要几天的时间。根据世界银行发布的2017年营商分析报告，立陶宛在适宜成立新公司一项排名第21位。立陶宛的优势还体现在办理建筑许可证、登记财产和履行合同方面。
立陶宛在申请成立公司所需程序的数目方面位居世界前三名（第三名）；在启动新公司所需时间方面同样位居世界前列（第十三名）；贸易关税方面也属于最优惠的国家（第五名）；而在财产登记的简易程度方面则列在世界第二位。
立陶宛的电子基础设施在欧盟中居于领先地位。事实上，它在世界领域也是最先进的。立陶宛在提供经商所需的电子信息技术方面排名全球首位，而在宽带和光纤基础设施领域则是地区的领导者。由于它所处的时区很方便为世界各地提供服务，同时它又拥有世界上最快的公共互联网，因此立陶宛是开展国际信息技术和服务业务的最佳之选。
立陶宛的国家和市级政府都明确表态要致力于发展金融科技，营造一个有利于金融科技的监管环境，使企业可以通过立陶宛的中央银行直接在单一欧元付款区（SEPA）存取资金，并且拥有它们的国际银行帐户号码（IBAN）。对于初创企业，还可以享受一年的监管保护期。这样的环境以及具有竞争优势的低成本和充满活力的年轻人才，促使巴克莱银行决定选择将维尔纽斯作为其七个国际崛起中心之一，专门为金融科技的初创企业服务。
立陶宛的法律完全符合欧盟标准，提供了安全、透明的法律框架。立陶宛的法律制度接受公认的投资法律管制原则。平等待遇原则意味着立陶宛本国投资者和外国投资者按照《立陶宛投资法》和其它相关立法享有平等的经商条件。而平等保护原则意味着立陶宛法律同时保护本国投资者和外国投资者的权利和合法利益。立陶宛投资机构“投资立陶宛”可以随时为外国投资者提供帮助和引导。
制定战略规划支持创新企业
一带一路倡议不仅涉及到基础设施建设以及贯穿大陆间的陆地和海上运输连接，也与科学技术领域的合作有关，并且可以将各国人民与智慧都凝聚在一起。
立陶宛和中国有着相同的经济发展战略目标，即建立创新驱动的现代化经济，并且以研发作为重点。事实上，立陶宛的创新正在对全球的研究和产品开发产生影响：从世界上最大功效的激光器到45亿多部智能手机上使用的超耐磨玻璃。在立陶宛，许多公司拥有国际水准的研究团队，但他们的成本在全球极具竞争力，而且政府对研发一向给予坚决和大力的支持。
2014年，立陶宛政府通过了国家智能化战略。该战略的目标就是增加高附加值、知识密集和高素质的劳动密集型经济活动对国民生产总值和经济结构转型的影响。它列出了六个研发和创新的优先领域，它们都具有商业潜能以及研究和技术发展的优势，同时又有促进不同利益相关方之间协作的能力：1）医疗技术和生物技术；2）运输、物流和信息与通信技术；3）能源与可持续环境；4）新的生产工艺、材料和技术；5）农业创新和食品技术；6）包容性发展与创新型社会。在这样的战略布局下，立陶宛现在已经在欧洲创新排行榜上跃居第八位，排在波兰、匈牙利、斯洛伐克和西班牙的前面。
立陶宛将大范围的创新承诺与小规模、特定行业的具体业务结合在一起，这使它既可以慷慨地资助充满活力的企业，又具有适应商业需求的能力。一方面研发开支减少了三倍，另一方面公司所得税降了将近50%。人才培养是第一要务，50%的员工培训费用可以由政府报销。
因此，立陶宛是中国在研发方面最理想的合作伙伴。立陶宛拥有世界一流的基础设施，立陶宛科学院里的人才和专家都能讲多种语言，这些使得立陶宛成为了联合研发项目的理想场所。而且立陶宛在激光和光纤技术、生命科学、信息和通信技术、金融技术、电子和力学方面也都成就卓著。
2013年立陶宛政府制定了2014—2020立陶宛创新发展规划，这一战略性规划为立陶宛的创新政策确立了行动纲领，它还具体列出了到2020年在创新方面应当实现的目标和取得的成就。该方案在起草时就着眼于调动国家资源，以高水平的知识、高层次技术和高素质的人才为基础，提升立陶宛的创新能力，促进有竞争力的经济发展。2014—2020立陶宛创新发展方案的目标是：借助新知识及其应用，发展创新社会；深挖企业的创新潜力；促进价值增值、持续发展和国际化进程；提高创新决策制定和实施的效率和推动公共部门的创新。
两国合作助力创新型企业发展
立陶宛和中国已经开始在帮助创新型年轻企业发展方面展开合作。2014年，立陶宛与中国就双方在科技园区领域的合作签署了谅解备忘录。代表立陶宛签署该备忘录的是立陶宛科学、创新和技术机构（MITA）；中方代表是上海市科学技术委员会（STCSM）。
2016年，在立陶宛科学、创新和技术机构、上海市科学技术委员会、上海创新中心以及立陶宛驻华使馆的共同努力下，一个针对位于立陶宛科技园区的一些公司的试点加速计划正式启动。五家公司参与了这个为期两周的加速计划，其中包括两个私营加速器（“XNODE 共同工作空间启动加速器”和“太库创业者国度”；和一个公共加速器（“同济大学自然科学与技术产业园”）。
2017年11月15-28日，11家立陶宛公司在中国参加了为期2周的加速计划，这次北京和深圳被选定为合作方。我们期待这一计划能够帮助立陶宛公司打开进入中国市场的大门。
中小企业是立陶宛经济的支柱，它们中大多数都拥有一定的技术。而中国也鼓励其中小企业应用先进的科学和技术，因此两国的中小企业有着巨大的合作前景，应当进一步探索新模式、鼓励和加强对接。一带一路倡议可以搭建一个平台，让丝绸之路沿线国家的中小企业在此进行项目交流。它将有助于更好地理解不同国家的商业环境，并且促进不同文化和人民之间的相互接触。
中国是立陶宛重要的贸易伙伴。自2009年以来，两国间的贸易关系一直在稳步发展：从立陶宛向中国的出口增加了四倍多；从中国的进口也增加了两倍。经济和贸易合作的加强带来了人与人之间的密切往来和旅游业的日益增长。相比2016年，2017年到访立陶宛的中国游客增加了45.1%。
丝绸之路倡议为立陶宛和中国以及所有丝绸之路沿线国家打开了新的更广泛的互利合作的机遇。在新丝绸之路上，许多领域和诸多尚未发现的可能都将释放出无限的潜能。（编辑：张梅）
Bridge to Link China and the EU
by H. E. Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania
Welcoming China’s Belt and Road Initiative and believing in its great potential, Lithuania has recently signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation within the Framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21 st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative.
The Belt and Road Initiative aiming to connect economies, communities and people is meant to bring benefit in terms of high quality infrastructure, inclusiveness and economic cooperation. Lithuania sees a great value of full use of the Belt and Road initiative as this is in the interests of our two countries.
Lithuania and China are already cooperating in the development of innovative young companies, partnership in R&D cooperation has a great potential to be further developed.
Lithuania and China share a friendship that is under pinned by frequent high-level visits, increasing economic cooperation, joint participation in the EU-China dialogue, 16+1 platform and close people-to-people links. Our bilateral cooperation is multi-faceted and it has developed on the priorities and needs of our two countries.
Lithuania sees a great value of full use of the Belt and Road initiative, which puts a significant focus on logistical chain with Baltic region. Lithuania has been constantly developing its railway and road connections, logistic hubs, industrial clusters to meet the forthcoming needs and demands. Partnership between Lithuania and China in transport and logistics has been a priority of Lithuanian policy with one of the major goals of the Lithuanian transport system to become a bridge between China and the EU and a reliable Silk Road cooperation partner for China.
Lithuania is resolute to provide the necessary transportation and logistics chain for the sea transported cargo via Klaipeda Sea Port as well as railway cargo via intermodal terminals.Lithuania’s physical infrastructure gives investors a broad range of reliable, fast and high quality logistics options for streamlining their operations.
Klaipėda is the only ice-free seaport on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. It is the largest port in the Baltic states, handling up to 65 million tons of cargo annually. The shortest distances connect the port with the most important industrial regions of the Eastern hinterland (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine etc.). The main shipping lines connects it to the ports of Europe. The latest information system speeds up cargo traffic via the port of Klaipėda, strengthens the competitive advantage of the port, and facilitates the operations of ship’s agents and forwarders. It ensures the exchange of electronic data between businesses and institutions operating in the port.
Port Traffic Management System is designated to manage in an automated way navigation processes of large and small vessels in the port, accounting of port dues, data forwarding to information systems of other institutions as well as rendering of e-services applying the method of a "single window".
Rail cargo services directly connect Lithuania to Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine and Asia, including China.Just one example, in September 2017, Lithuanian railway’s in cooperation with neighbouring countries and China Railway International Multimodal Transport (CRIMT) opened a new route of cargo transportation connecting Poland and Chengdu, Lithuania being in a unique position of a transit railway corridor. Lithuania focuses on modernization and development of rail infrastructure as an essential precondition for successful performance within the European railway system. Priority is given to renovation and upgrading of the rail infrastructure in international transport corridors, mostly focusing on assurance of technical interaction of Lithuanian and European railways, on meeting today's safety and environmental requirements, on increase of railway load and trains speed, and on promotion of combined shipments. The goal is to ensure a continuous and convenient traffic by using the latest communication and alarm technologies, increasing line capacity, train speed, and the permitted axle load, as well as by implementing infrastructure modernization projects that directly determine the attractiveness of rail infrastructure network.
Lithuanian international airports are offering access to key European locations in 2-3 hours. We are pleased to note positive movements between Lithuania and China in the area of civil aviation with the aim to establish direct air connection.
We see the potential for setting new cargo consolidation/deconsolidation points and industrial park platforms for Chinese investors in our free economic zones aiming to serve European market through Lithuanian sea and road transport systems.
Lithuania is an attractive place to invest and start innovative business. According to various global innovation and competitiveness rankings, Lithuania is a good place to develop innovative business. Lithuania’s supportive business environment has been streamlined to ensure maximum profitability with a minimum of hassle. With short set-up times and e-government administrative solutions, Lithuania ranks alongside the likes of Germany and Ireland for ease of doing business. Companies established in Lithuania benefit from some of the lowest commercial rental costs in the region, combined with generous tax support.
A business can be set up electronically in just a few days. According to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2017 report, Lithuania ranks 21st in the world for ease of starting a business. Lithuania’s strengths are also demonstrated in the fields of dealing with construction permits, registering property and enforcing contracts.
Lithuania is one of the TOP3 countries in the world regarding number of procedures to start a business (No 3), is among leaders with regard to time to start a business (No 13), trade tariffs are among the most favourable (No 5). Lithuania ranks 2nd in the world for ease of property registration.
Lithuania’s e-infrastructure is EU-leading. In fact, it is amongst the best worldwide. Lithuania is ranked first globally for fulfilling business needs for ICT, and is a regional leader for bandwidth and fibre-optic infrastructure. Combined with its convenient time zone for broad international service coverage, Lithuania is an excellent location for international IT and service operations. Lithuania has the fastest public internet in the world.
Lithuanian authorities at both national and municipal levels have shown strong levels of commitment to the FinTech sector, creating a FinTech-friendly regulatory environment that offers companies direct access to SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) via Lithuania's central bank and the ability to issue their own IBANs (International Bank Account Number), plus a one-year sandbox period of friendly regulation for start-ups. This environment, combined with cost competitiveness and dynamic young talent, is why a company like Barclays chose Vilnius for one of only 7 international Rise hubs for FinTech start-ups.
Lithuanian laws are fully EU compliant, providing safe and transparent legal framework. The legal system of Lithuania recognizes the generally accepted principles of the legal regulation of investments. The principle of equal treatment means that both Lithuanian and foreign investors have equal business conditions defined in the Lithuanian Law on Investment and other relevant legislation. The principle of equal protection means that the laws of Lithuania protect the rights and lawful interests of both local and foreign investors. Lithuanian Investment agency “Invest Lithuania” is ready to assist and guide of foreign investors.
The Belt and Road Initiative is not only about infrastructure construction, land and sea transport connections linking continents physically. It is also about cooperation in the field of science and technology, about connecting people and ideas.
Lithuania and China have the same strategic economic development goals, i.e. innovation driven modernized economy with focus on research and development. Lithuanian innovation is impacting research and product development globally: from the world’s most powerful laser through to the extra-resistant glass in over 4.5 billion smartphones. In Lithuania companies are assembling international-quality research teams at highly competitive costs,and there is a strong and committed governmental support for R&D.
Lithuania invests wisely and intensively in R&D and innovation through Smart Specialization.In 2014 Lithuanian Government approved the national Smart Specialization Strategy. The strategic goal is to increase the impact of high value added, knowledge-intensive and highly-qualified-labour-intensive economic activities on the GDP and structural changes of the economy. It sets out six R&D and innovation priority areas determined considering business potential, strengths in research and technological development, capacity to foster collaboration among different stakeholders:1) Health technologies and biotechnologies; 2) Transport, logistic and information and communication technologies; 3) Energy and a sustainable environment; 4) New production processes, materials and technologies; 5) Agro-innovation and food technologies; 6) Inclusive and creative society.So it’s not surprising that Lithuania has jumped 8 places in the European Innovation Scoreboard and now ranks ahead of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain.
Lithuania combines large-scale commitment to innovation with small-scale, sector-specific tailoring. This enables it to support dynamic businesses with both generous support and an ability to adapt to niche needs. R&D expenses are fully deductible 3 times, while corporate tax can be reduced by up to 50%. Nurturing talent is a top priority, 50% of employee training costs can be reimbursed.
Therefore, Lithuania is a perfect partner for China in R&D cooperation. Combination of the top-class infrastructure and a remarkable multi-lingual of talents and professionals in Lithuania’s science institutions make Lithuania a perfect destination for joint R&D projects. Lithuania stands out by the achievements in laser and optic technologies, life sciences, information and communication technology (ICT), financial technologies, electronics, mechanics.
In 2013 Lithuanian government adopted Lithuanian Innovation Development Programme 2014–2020, a strategic planning document setting guidelines for innovation policy in Lithuania. It sets goals, objectives and results to be achieved in the field of innovation up to 2020. The programme was drafted with a view to mobilising the state resources for the improvement of Lithuania’s innovativeness and development of competitive economy based on high level knowledge, high technologies, qualified human resources. Objectives of the Lithuanian Innovation Development Programme 2014–2020: to develop innovative society by developing new knowledge and its application; to enhance business innovation potential of business; to promote the creation of value networking, development and internationalization; to increase efficiency of innovation policy-making and implementation and promote innovation in the public sector.
Lithuania and China are already cooperating in the development of innovative young companies. In 2014 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation between science and technology parks of Lithuania and China was signed between the Lithuanian Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (STCSM).
In 2016, under the joint efforts of MITA, STCSM, Shanghai Innovation Centre and Lithuanian Embassy in the People’s Republic of China a pilot acceleration program for Lithuanian companies located in Lithuanian science and technology parks was launched. Five companies took part in a two-week acceleration program in two private accelerators (“XNODE CO-Working Space Startup Accelerator” and “TechCode Startups Nation”) and one public accelerator (“Tongji University National Science & Technology Park”).
On 15-28 November2017, 11 companies underwent 2 weeks acceleration program in China. This time Shenzhen and Beijing have been chosen as partners. We expect the program to help Lithuanian companies to open a gate to Chinese market.
Small and medium-sized enterprises comprise the backbone of Lithuanian economy, majority of them are technology based. China is also encouraging its SME’s to apply advances of science and technology. There is a big potential for SME’s cooperation which has to be explored, encouraged and enhanced. The Belt and Road Initiative could serve as a platform of establishing an SME exchange programme of the Silk Road countries. It would help to better understand business environment, promote mutual contacts among different cultures and people within the Belt and Road countries.
China is an important trade partner of Lithuania. Since 2009 trade relations between our two countries have been steadily intensifying: exports from Lithuania to China have increased more than four times, imports from China grew twice. The increase of economic and trade cooperation is followed by a greater people to people contacts and growing tourism. The vivid example is an increase by 45.1% in number of tourists who visited Lithuania from China in 2017 in comparison with 2016.
The Silk Road Initiative opens wide horizons for new mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities between Lithuania and China as well as among all Silk Road countries. There are lots of spheres with numerous undiscovered yet possibilities of unleashing the unlimited potential of the new Silk Road.