President Tsai hosts luncheon for Lithuanian Seimas speaker

2023/10/25

President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 23 that Taiwan is committed to deepening its bilateral partnership with Lithuania to strengthen economic resilience and jointly contribute to global peace and prosperity.
 
Tsai made the remarks while meeting with a delegation led by Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas at the Presidential Office in Taipei City. The group also comprises Vice Minister of Finance Vaida Markeviciene together with finance and digital technology business and association representatives.
 
Taiwan and Lithuania have made substantive progress in bilateral relations, Tsai said. This is evidenced by the establishment of mutual representative offices, close collaboration in areas spanning biotechnology and laser industries and Taiwan’s assistance in building Lithuanian semiconductor capacity, she added.
 
The country continues to leverage the Central and Eastern European Investment Fund to bolster mutual economic ties, Tsai said, adding that Lithuania is enhancing practical cooperation with Taiwan through publishing its Indo-Pacific Strategy in July. Tsai also took the opportunity to thank Cmilyte-Nielsen and the Lithuanian government for supporting Taiwan’s international participation.
 
In response, Cmilyte-Nielsen said the two sides’ collaboration is built on shared values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law. Democracies should work together when the international rules-based order is tested by aggressive authoritarian regimes, she added.
 
Taiwan is an important partner in high added-value commercial sectors and Lithuania could become its gateway to Europe, Cmilyte-Nielsen said, adding that strengthening the Baltic state’s ties in the Indo-Pacific is a priority and thus deepening partnership with Taiwan is of great importance.
 
Earlier in the day, the delegation met with Vice President Lai Ching-te who noted that Taiwan is dedicated to working with Lithuania to uphold their shared values. He anticipated closer cooperation in technology and trade, citing the co-established Ultrafast Laser Technology Research and Innovation Center in the southern city of Tainan, as well as food and medical equipment imports from Lithuania. 


Source: Noticias de Taiwan (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)