‘LITMUS TEST’:
Vilnius’ partnership with Taiwan should prove to countries in Europe that ‘democracies working together strengthen each other,‘ Cmilyte-Nielsen said
By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
A strong cooperative relationship with Taiwan is Lithuania’s priority and a successful example for European countries to follow, Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen said yesterday.
As the first sitting speaker of the Seimas to visit Taiwan, Cmilyte-Nielsen is leading a delegation comprising Lithuanian officials, Seimas staff and representatives from the Lithuanian business sector on a trip to Taiwan that ends tomorrow.
During a luncheon presided over by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Cmilyte-Nielsen said that Lithuania values its relations with Taiwan as it is a “like-minded frontline democracy.”
Photo: CNA
The collaboration between the two sides is “built on solid ground, mutual trust and common values,” including freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, she said.
Lithuania’s cooperation with Taiwan is serving as “a litmus test for many countries in Europe,” and should prove that “democracies working together strengthen each other and offer tangible results for the common good of the people,” she said.
She underlined the importance of democracies uniting around the globe at a time when aggressive authoritarian regimes are threatening the international rules-based order.
The future of this order “is largely decided in Ukraine today,” she said, acknowledging Taiwan’s support to Ukraine and calling on democracies worldwide to “stand firmly on Ukraine’s side.”
Lithuania and Taiwan have cooperated more closely over the past two years, Cmilyte-Nielsen said, expressing confidence in developing greater mutually beneficial cooperation with Taiwan.
Business representatives joined the delegation because there is more potential to unlock regarding business and economic cooperation, she said.
Lithuania considers Taiwan “an important partner” in semiconductors, laser technologies and other high added-value sectors, she said.
“We could well become Taiwan’s gateway to Europe,” she added.
Tsai thanked the eastern European country for “prioritizing and supporting Taiwan,” including by stating that it seeks to “enhance practical cooperation with Taiwan” in the Indo-Pacific strategy it published in July.
The Seimas and the Lithuanian government have repeatedly and publicly supported Taiwan’s international participation, demonstrating their firm support for democratic partners, she said.
Taiwan and Lithuania have made “substantive progress” in bilateral relations over the past few years, Tsai said, citing the opening of representative offices in each other’s countries as an example.
Taiwan has assisted Lithuania in building its semiconductor capacity, while the two sides are also expanding cooperation in areas such as the laser industry and biotechnology, she said.
Regarding economy and trade, Taiwan continues to leverage the Central and Eastern Europe Investment Fund, which was launched by the Cabinet’s National Development Fund in March last year, to bolster ties with Lithuania, Tsai said.
The businesses and associations that joined the delegation could help to deepen cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania in the fields of finance and digital technology, she said.
The two sides would continue to reinforce each other’s economic resilience, strengthen their partnership and contribute to global peace and prosperity, she said.
Separately, Vice President William Lai (賴清德) said he hoped Taiwan and Lithuania could further deepen cooperation on security, scientific research and development, and economy and trade.
Lithuanian beer has become popular in Taiwan, and Taiwan has begun importing Lithuanian beef, dairy products and aquatic products, Lai said, adding that closer economic and trade cooperation could bring greater trust and exchanges between peoples.
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), who met the delegation in the afternoon, praised Lithuania as “a staunch role model for freedom and democracy and an inspiration for democracy-loving people around the world.”
Chen said he hoped to see more bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector after Cmilyte-Nielsen signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Taiwan on medical and healthcare cooperation.
She is also to sign an MOU on avoiding double taxation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
At a news conference later yesterday, Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) thanked the Seimas for its warm hospitality when he visited last year.
Cmilyte-Nielsen is a practitioner of democracy, refusing to bow down to authoritarian pressure to refrain from strengthening ties with Taiwan, You said.
Asked whether the delegation’s visit had encountered opposition from China, Cmilyte-Nielsen said that Lithuania’s “success in expanding our economic and human ties with Taiwan is not directed against any country,” so the visit should not “prompt any warnings.”
Cmilyte-Nielse was also asked what concrete actions the international community could take to help deter a potential war in the Taiwan Strait.
She said that democracies around the world have a responsibility to become more resilient and assertive to safeguard the rules-based international order, such as by continuing to support Ukraine.
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