Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen yesterday highlighted the shared values that have brought Vilnius and Taipei closer while stressing the importance of continued economic cooperation in a speech at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei.
“Both Taiwan and Lithuania are guided by the belief that people are the creators of their own destiny,” Cmilyte-Nielsen, who is the first sitting Lithuanian speaker to visit Taiwan, said in her speech titled “Beyond Borders: Vitality of Democratic Cooperation.”
Taiwan and Lithuania “share a goal of preserving the principles of democracy,” which serves as “our common ground” and a foundation for a relationship that “transcends geographical distances,” she said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
“I truly believe that shared values can bridge the largest geographical distances and bring people together,” she said, adding that fostering strong relations between democracies is more important than ever in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Describing cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania as “a litmus test” to other democratic nations, Cmilyte-Nielsen underscored the importance of the two nations continuing to develop their economic ties.
Several EU nations are watching closely whether cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania will yield specific economic and investment results, she said.
Photo: CNA
“Together, we must show that collaboration between democracies is both right and mutually beneficial,” she said.
The “partnership between Lithuania and Taiwan must become a success story,” she said.
Touting the Baltic nation’s advanced laser manufacturing, life sciences, cybersecurity and fintech sectors, she said that Lithuania would be an excellent partner for Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific stakeholders seeking to expand their high-tech business in Europe.
In July 2021, Taiwan and Lithuania announced plans to open a reciprocal representative office in each other’s capital to strengthen bilateral relations.
Since then, both sides have worked together to tackle various global challenges, she said, adding that later that same year, Lithuania donated 25,5900 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan.
Most recently, the two sides have jointly funded the reconstruction of a kindergarten in Ukraine that was badly damaged by the protracted war in the country, she added.
Despite warmer ties with Taiwan, Lithuania has come under heavy political and economic pressure from China following a decision to allow Taiwan’s representative office in Vilnius, which opened on Nov. 18, 2021, to include the word “Taiwanese” in its name.
Taiwan typically names its overseas representative offices “Taipei Economic and Cultural Office” or “Taipei Representative Office,” in keeping with the host countries’ preference to avoid any references that imply Taiwan is a separate country from China.
Cmilyte-Nielsen also received a parliamentary medal of honor for diplomacy from her Taiwanese counterpart, You Si-kun (游錫?), in recognition of her “tremendous contributions to supporting Taiwan.”
SLOW-MOVING STORM: The typhoon has started moving north, but at a very slow pace, adding uncertainty to the extent of its impact on the nation Work and classes have been canceled across the nation today because of Typhoon Krathon, with residents in the south advised to brace for winds that could reach force 17 on the Beaufort scale as the Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecast that the storm would make landfall there. Force 17 wind with speeds of 56.1 to 61.2 meters per second, the highest number on the Beaufort scale, rarely occur and could cause serious damage. Krathon could be the second typhoon to land in southwestern Taiwan, following typhoon Elsie in 1996, CWA records showed. As of 8pm yesterday, the typhoon’s center was 180km
STILL DANGEROUS: The typhoon was expected to weaken, but it would still maintain its structure, with high winds and heavy rain, the weather agency said One person had died amid heavy winds and rain brought by Typhoon Krathon, while 70 were injured and two people were unaccounted for, the Central Emergency Operation Center said yesterday, while work and classes have been canceled nationwide today for the second day. The Hualien County Fire Department said that a man in his 70s had fallen to his death at about 11am on Tuesday while trimming a tree at his home in Shoufeng Township (壽豐). Meanwhile, the Yunlin County Fire Department received a report of a person falling into the sea at about 1pm on Tuesday, but had to suspend search-and-rescue
RULES BROKEN: The MAC warned Chinese not to say anything that would be harmful to the autonomous status of Taiwan or undermine its sovereignty A Chinese couple accused of disrupting a pro-democracy event in Taipei organized by Hong Kong residents has been deported, the National Immigration Agency said in a statement yesterday afternoon. A Chinese man, surnamed Yao (姚), and his wife were escorted by immigration officials to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they boarded a flight to China before noon yesterday, the agency said. The agency said that it had annulled the couple’s entry permits, citing alleged contraventions of the Regulations Governing the Approval of Entry of People of the Mainland Area into the Taiwan Area (大陸地區人民進入台灣地區許可辦法). The couple applied to visit a family member in
CELEBRATION: The PRC turned 75 on Oct. 1, but the Republic of China is older. The PRC could never be the homeland of the people of the ROC, Lai said The People’s Republic of China (PRC) could not be the “motherland” of the people of the Republic of China (ROC), President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks in a speech at a Double Ten National Day gala in Taipei, which is part of National Day celebrations that are to culminate in a fireworks display in Yunlin County on Thursday night next week. Lai wished the country a happy birthday and called on attendees to enjoy the performances and activities while keeping in mind that the ROC is a sovereign and independent nation. He appealed for everyone to always love their
RSS