News

On 20 October in Bogotá, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Mantvydas Bekešius met with Patti Londoño-Jaramillo, the Colombian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. The meeting focused on the Colombian peace process and its subsequent course, bilateral relations between Lithuania and Colombia, economic and regional cooperation.

“Colombia is interested in strengthening economic cooperation with Lithuania and we have things to offer, for example – the ice-free seaport of Klaipėda that can become a gateway for Colombian exports to the CIS countries, as well as countries in Central Asia,” said Bekešius after the meeting. He also stressed that there were missed opportunities to cooperate in the fields of education, culture and science. Currently, the Colombian state agency that promotes higher education ICETEX is negotiating agreements with higher education institutions in Lithuania.

Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister underlined the importance of the Lithuanian-Colombian cooperation in the field of higher education. “We very much look forward to the exchange of teachers, researchers and students. Lithuania offers high-level, internationally acclaimed studies,” said the official.

In the meeting, the Colombian delegation took special interest in the opportunity to develop student exchange and to cooperate in the field of tourism, especially medical tourism, infrastructure, Lithuania’s experience in this field, biotechnology and science research.

According to Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister, the conclusion of a treaty for the avoidance of double taxation would stimulate economic ties. Lithuania calls on Colombia to conclude the treaty in the short run.

In the meeting, Bekešius noted that it would be useful to sign an agreement on transfer of sentenced persons with Colombia. This agreement would give Lithuanian citizens, who are convicted of a criminal offence, the possibility of serving their sentences in Lithuania. The officials agreed to look for an opportunity to negotiate the agreement.

The officials also agreed to develop joint projects in the area of public diplomacy, promoting a better understanding of each other.

Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister and the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister also agreed to support the candidacy of the countries in various organizations and exchanged their opinions on regional issues.

According to the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister, despite the fact that the referendum rejected the peace accord between the country’s Government and the FARC guerrilla group, the truce has been extended, the warring parties are advancing efforts to seek a sustainable peace and the peace accord is being renegotiated.

Bekešius invited the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Londoño-Jaramillo to visit Lithuania.