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On 17 October at the OECD-Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Egidijus Meilūnas noted that it was necessary to strengthen cooperation with countries in the Southeast Asia region, as well as to jointly address challenges posed by Russia’s war against Ukraine and economic violence challenges facing international trade. Meilūnas also pointed out that the diversification of Lithuanian markets was successful. Bilateral trade with the countries in the Indo-Pacific region has grown by as much as 60 % a year, which also increases the country’s economic resilience.

Meilūnas said that Russia’s war against Ukraine had enormous negative consequences for the international trade's recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, Meilūnas stressed the importance of diversifying markets for increasing economic resilience.

“Lithuania aims to develop economic relations with the countries in the Southeast Asia region, especially in sectors with high added value. Trade trends confirm that efforts pay off. Since last year, bilateral trade with the countries in the region has increased by as much as 60 percent," Meilūnas said.

The Foreign Vice-Minister also stressed that Russia bore responsibility for disruptions in international trade and, especially, the increase in food and energy prices. People and businesses pay a very high price for Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

Trade problems are exacerbated by increasing economic abuses by non-market economies. According to the Foreign Vice-Minister, economic violence cannot be tolerated. We must respond to it in order to safeguard free trade.

On 17-18 October in Hanoi, Vietnam, the OECD-Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum is attended by ministers, high-level participants and representatives of business and economic development agencies from OECD and ASEAN countries. This year’s forum under the theme “Connecting Regions: Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Supply Chains” will explore practical measures ASEAN and OECD businesses and governments can take to improve their cooperation and supply chain resilience. Southeast Asia has long been a region of priority for the OECD. The organisation aims at strengthening its co-operation with the region.