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On 3–4 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, attends the OECD Ministerial Council meeting. This year, Lithuania is the Vice-Chair of the major annual OECD event.

In his opening speech, the Minister called on OECD members to further strengthen their support for Ukraine and actively contribute to OECD initiatives that support Ukraine’s reform and reconstruction agenda.

“Supporting Ukraine means defending the values that are at the core of the OECD – democracy, human rights, the rules-based international order. Lithuania supports and will support Ukraine both bilaterally and through OECD instruments,” said Budrys.

In his opening speech, the Minister underlined the importance of the OECD in addressing global challenges. Budrys noted that in the face of current geopolitical, economic, and technological challenges, the OECD was a unique organisation that helped countries maintain focus, and that its expertise and policy recommendations were a reliable guide for implementing the countries’ reforms.

“We need to strive for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable prosperity through rules-based trade, investment and innovation. Our ability not only to address emerging challenges but also to seize new opportunities is important. Responsible artificial intelligence governance, digital transformation, strengthening economic resilience – areas where we need to act together," said the Minister.

The Ministerial Council is the OECD’s most important annual event bringing together Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, and Finance from member and partner countries. This year's meeting, under the theme “Leading the Way towards Resilient, Inclusive, and Sustainable Prosperity through Rules-Based Trade, Investment, and Innovation,” is chaired by Costa Rica, with Australia, Canada, and Lithuania serving as Vice-Chairs.