The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday welcomed Lithuanian Vice Minister of Agriculture Vytenis Tomkus, who is leading the sixth high-level delegation to Taiwan from the European nation in the past year.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Roy Lee (李淳) hosted a banquet at the ministry on Thursday night to welcome the delegation, the ministry said in a press release.
Taiwan and Lithuania continue to improve relations in fields including agriculture, with great outcomes, Lee said at the banquet.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via CNA
Since last year, Taiwan has permitted imports of Lithuanian aquatic, dairy and processed egg products, and opened to door to beef and eggs this year, he said.
It would be nice to see more products from Lithuania in Taiwan, he said.
There is great potential for the two sides to cooperate further in the machinery, technology and software fields, Lee said.
Tomkus said that he was honored to visit Taiwan for the first time and thanked the nation for its hospitality.
Taiwan and Lithuania held their first meeting on agricultural cooperation on Thursday, which was constructive and meaningful, he said.
The two sides expressed hope that cooperation would continue to deepen, and exchanged opinions on industrial development, mutual investment, economic affairs and trade, and the war between Russia and Ukraine, the ministry said.
Tomkus is to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on agricultural cooperation between the two nations, it added.
The delegation on Wednesday attended the opening of the Food Taipei Mega Shows at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, where Lithuania is showcasing its beer and chocolates, and visited agricultural research institutions, the ministry said.
The trip can help bolster cooperation between the governments and businesses from both sides, and open up more opportunities to work together, it said.
Tomkus’ delegation followed ones led by Lithuanian Vice Minister of the Economy and Innovation Karolis Zemaitis in February and Lithuanian Committee on National Security and Defense Chairman Laurynas Kasciunas in January, the ministry added.
Frequent visits by senior Lithuanian officials “fully demonstrate the close relations between Taiwan and Lithuania,” it said.
Lee this month returned from a trip to the European country, during which he announced that the ministry was to contribute US$5 million to reconstruction projects in Ukraine initiated by Vilnius.
Separately, visiting Italian Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio on Thursday said he hoped to obtain the signatures of all 200 Italian senators to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA).
Taiwan should be allowed to share its successful experience in combating COVID-19 at the WHA, Centinaio said during a meeting with Legislative Speaker You Si-kun.
As a member of the Italy-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Centinaio has been introducing bills beneficial to the bilateral relationship and persuaded 13 lawmakers to sign a petition in support of Taiwan’s participation in the WHA, he said, adding that he could do more.
He hopes to promote Italy’s high-quality agricultural products, food and tourism in Taiwan, and help match businesses from both sides to facilitate investment, he said.
The Italian delegation is scheduled to depart Taiwan on Monday.
Additional reporting by Hsieh Chun-lin
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