Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Landsbergis at the OECD Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum: “Lithuania contributes to global initiatives to strengthen rules-based economic cooperation”
On 26 October, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis attended the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme Ministerial Forum 2023 under the theme of Sustainable and Quality Investment: New Momentum for OECD-Southeast Asia Partnership. Landsbergis noted that in a constantly changing global environment, where the countries of the transatlantic region and Southeast Asia were currently facing geopolitical challenges, it was necessary to strengthen the link between security and economic growth.
“Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has disrupted the post-pandemic recovery of the global economy. It has raised global food and raw material prices and disrupted supply chains. Our common interest is to ensure that the rules-based international order remains resilient and can withstand economic shocks while promoting sustainable investment opportunities,” Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Landsbergis said.
According to Landsbergis, strengthening bilateral relations with Southeast Asia is essential for expanding economic potential promoting investment and mutual growth.
“Lithuania has recently adopted the first Indo-Pacific strategy and is firmly committed to seizing new opportunities in the region, especially in sectors such as electronics, biotechnology, lasers and renewable energy.
Landsbergis stressed that bilateral cooperation and cooperation between the European Union and Southeast Asia was essential.
“The EU’s free trade agreements with Singapore and Vietnam have opened wide trade opportunities. We support and encourage ongoing EU trade negotiations with other countries in the region. It is also important to develop effective measures to respond to economic coercion,” Landsbergis said.
The Foreign Minister underlined that Lithuania was ready to establish mutually beneficial partnerships in Southeast Asia while contributing to global initiatives strengthening rules-based cooperation.
“Such strong and credible partnerships should be the cornerstone of an ever closer and mutually beneficial relationship between Europe and Southeast Asia,” Landsbergis noted.
On 26-27 October, the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme Ministerial Forum 2023 takes place in Hanoi, Vietnam.
This year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Australian Government and the OECD are co-hosting the event.
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