Lithuania

Note: This column mainly includes countries along the Belt and Road and countries that have signed cooperation agreements with China on Belt and Road Initiative.

In 2013, cooperation in various areas between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Lithuania continued to deepen. Yet the bilateral ties were affected by negative factors.

Political exchanges continued. In November, Premier Li Keqiang met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius on the sidelines of the Meeting of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries in Bucharest, Romania. In July, Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao held the political consultation between the two foreign ministries with Lithuanian Vice Foreign Minister Rolandas Krisciunas in Lithuania, and met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Antanas Linkevicius. In April, Lithuanian Economy Minister Birrute Vesaite attended the fourth High-level Forum of Political Parties of China and Europe in China. In May, Lithuanian Vice Foreign Minister Rolandas Krisciunas visited China. He met with Vice Foreign Minister Song Tao and International Trade Representative, Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan.

Exchanges were maintained between the two legislatures. In October, a delegation of the Lithuania-China Friendship Group of the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) headed by Algirdas Sysas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, visited China. NPC Deputy Chairperson Yan Junqi met with the delegation, and Chairperson of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee Fu Ying held talks with the delegation.

Cooperation in business, culture and other areas were strengthened. In May, Lithuanian Culture Minister Sarunas Birutis attended the Forum of Cultural Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries in China. In July, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Xie Zhenhua attended the Informal Meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Lithuania. In September, Lithuanian Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovic attended the Summer Davos in Dalian, China. By the end of 2013, there were three pairs of sister provinces/cities between the two countries.

On 11 September, in disregard of China's opposition, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite insisted on meeting Dalai in a so-called "private capacity". Such move negatively affected the bilateral ties. China lodged strong representations over the issue.

Source: fmprc.gov.cn