News

During his visit to Japan on 13-19 July, Foreign State Secretary Evaldas Ignatavičius and Japanese officials in charge of their country’s foreign policy discussed the role of Lithuania and Japan in the international processes and perspectives of the bilateral relations after Lithuania’s accession to the European Union (EU) and NATO. State Secretary Ignatavičius met with Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Shotaro Yachi, Head of the Japanese-Lithuanian Interparliamentary Relations Group Hirofumi Nakasone and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Lithuanian Foreign State Secretary also visited the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan Defence Agency, the Japan External Trade Organisation, the Japan Business Federation and the Japan Foundation, where he met with the representatives of the named institutions. During the meetings, the officials stressed the importance of intensifying bilateral personal and business relations and visits of high-level officials, promoting academic and cultural exchange and tourism, as well as encouraging trade and investments. According to Evaldas Ignatavičius, now, that Lithuania is on the threshold of becoming a EU member, the need to maintain closer relations with Japan - one of the major EU partners - increases as well as the demand of well-trained Asian experts. At the meetings, the Lithuanian and Japanese officials rejoiced over future visits of high-level delegations scheduled for autumn 2003. In September, a visit to Vilnius of representatives of the Japanese-Lithuanian Interparliamentary Relations Group and the Japanese-Lithuanian Friendship Association is foreseen. In November, a delegation of Lithuanian Parliamentarians and businessmen led by Parliament’s Chairman Artūras Paulauskas is to visit Japan. The possibility of meeting between the Lithuanian and Japanese Prime Ministers was also discussed, as well as the need to present Lithuania in Japan in a more comprehensive way. The Japanese officials took particular interest in Lithuania’s relations with Russia, the Kaliningrad region and Lithuania’s participation in the peacekeeping operations. Lithuanian Foreign State Secretary was informed on Japan’s position regarding the issues of Northern Korea, rebuilding of Iraq and the changes in the Japanese legislation that influence the Japanese national security policy.