Dear Excellencies,
Ambassador Masloch,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Many thanks to the choir “Korīga” for the wonderful musical opening to this reception. I have learned that singing holds a special significance in Latvia - and we were fortunate to experience this firsthand today.
On behalf of the delegation from Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein, and personally on behalf of my dear colleague, prime minister Daniel Günther, I would like to express my gratitude to you, Ambassador Masloch, for your warm welcome here in Riga and for hosting us this evening at St. Peter’s Church.
This church is a masterpiece of Brick Gothic architecture and a symbol of German-Baltic ties and Latvia’s independence.
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure for our delegation to meet so many friends and partners of Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein this evening. Dear guests from Riga, thank you very much for accepting our invitation.
Northern Germany and Latvia - Hamburg and Riga - have long shared strong and trusting relations dating back to the early Hanseatic era, when this church was built. Thanks to their geographical location and their ports, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein serve as a bridge within the Baltic region, connecting it to global markets.
Today, the Baltic Sea is among the most important shipping regions for the ports of Hamburg, Lübeck, and Kiel.
Since 2019, there has been a vibrant exchange between our ports and the Latvian ports of Riga, Ventspils, and Liepāja.
In recent years, Latvia and the northern German states have strengthened their ties, particularly in the fields of wind energy and green hydrogen, in port security and resilience, in digital innovation and AI.
In 2024, Latvia was the guest of honor at the Hamburg Port Anniversary. In September last year, a large Latvian delegation visited Hamburg.
During our journey this week, our delegation has gained valuable insights into the strengths of our friends and European partners in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia - countries that achieved remarkable economic growth of over 2.5 percent in 2025, well above the European average.
Over the past few days, we have also learned a lot about how our neighboring states are responding to the Russian threat to European security.
The message of our trip is: We are willing and ready to deepen the cooperation with our Baltic neighbors in business and politics, in science and culture, and especially in ports and maritime economy, in cybersecurity and defense.
Together with our NATO partners, we are not only protecting European territory. We are protecting the values of democracy and freedom.
Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein are committed to strengthening their ties with Latvia and the Baltic States, and to contributing to the economic, social, and political resilience of our countries.
Dear Ambassador Masloch,
Thank you once again for your hospitality and for making it possible for us to gather here today in this beautiful church.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the German Embassy, the Chamber of Foreign Trade, and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia for preparing our visit and organizing this reception.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish you all an inspiring evening, filled with fruitful conversations and new ideas for the future of our cooperation in the spirit of our shared Hanseatic heritage and the vision of a free and democratic, a strong and united Europe.
Thank you very much.
