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On 21 May, the Lithuania-China Forum was established during an event at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The forum aims at organising persons, who are interested in or whose activities are related to China, it will also promote business, culture, education, science relations between Lithuania and China. “I believe that the Lithuania-China Forum will undoubtedly contribute to the strengthening of relations with this dynamic Asian country, one of the world’s largest economies. The political and economic gravitation centre is shifting towards China. Both China and we have a lot to learn about each other, and possibilities for the development of activities are almost infinite,” said Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas, who is also a patron of the Forum.

During the meeting at the Ministry, an initiative group was formed, consisting of twenty representatives of state institutions, nongovernmental organisations and media, businessmen and members of the academic community.

The initiative group signed a declaration on the establishment of the Lithuania-China Forum. It sets out that the participants of the forum will aim at opening an active and constructive discussion to determine the priorities of trade, economy, culture, education and science in the Lithuanian-Chinese relations. They will also cooperate in enhancing the tools of the Lithuanian economic and cultural diplomacy in China, initiating joint projects and striving to form Lithuania’s image in China and China’s image in Lithuania. The forum will aspire to promote the activities of Lithuanian businessmen, artists and scientists in China.

“Today China is one of the main strategic partners of the European Union in Asia. It is Lithuania’s leading trade partner in the region. The influence of this country and the significance of its decisions for the global processes, also for the ones in Lithuania as an integral part of the global world, economy and society, will become even more important in the future,” says the declaration  establishing the forum.

The initiative group of the forum will be meeting once in three months.

It is intended to create a website for the forum, where the information about the activities of the forum would be announced. Website visitors will be able to exchange their opinions and take part in interactive discussions.

Minister V.Ušackas and Foreign Ministers of Asian countries will discuss possibilities of strengthening relations between Lithuania and China, and other Asian countries during the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Vietnam on 25-28 May. In the course of this event, the Minister will also present the first ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting, which will take place on 19-20 October in Vilnius.