China, Lithuania to open new chapter of friendly cooperation

VILNIUS -- China and Lithuania will open a new chapter of friendly cooperation with joint efforts, China's ambassador to Lithuania Wei Ruixing told Xinhua Thursday.

The upcoming visit of Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli to Lithuania from June 20 to 22 is of significant importance to the sound development of the bilateral relations between the two countries, Wei told Xinhua.

After more than one year's setbacks, the two countries' relations came back to the right track early this year, he said.

During the meetings of Zhang Gaoli with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, they will discuss on new opportunities of mutual beneficial cooperation and building new start of friendly cooperation of the two peoples, Wei noted.

According to Wei, "the two sides have been expanding pragmatic cooperation on politics, economy and trade, cultural and personnel exchanges, etc."

He told Xinhua that more and more Lithuanian people started learning Chinese language and culture.

He said the Confucius Institute at Vilnius University has brought Chinese classes to middle schools and primary schools as well. China and Lithuania have been holding performance and cultural exchanges in each other's country in last and this year, which were warmly welcomed by local audiences.

The ambassador added that "cooperation of the two sides in various fields will be further promoted with enhanced mutual understanding, mutual trust, respecting each other's core interests and grave concerns, based on adhering to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence."

Concerning cooperation on trade, Wei said that Lithuania is the largest trade partner in the Baltic region, while China is the largest trade partner of Lithuania in Asia.

The two sides can also enlarge cooperation on transportation and logistics, construction of infrastructure, high and new technology, clean energy, agriculture, food processing and so on.

Regarding China's "Belt and Road" initiatives, the ambassador said Lithuania is active on cooperation with China under this framework.

According to Wei, Lithuania will hold a conference with the topic of "One Road and One Belt: visions and opportunities" early in July in its port city of Klaipeda.

Lithuania has a competitive geographical location with developed transportation and logistics, and its government attaches great importance to conduct cooperation on transportation and logistics among European and Asian countries, he introduced.

The two sides can boost cooperation to bring more benefits to both peoples, according to Wei.