Lithuania Pakistan to Further Solidify, Diversify Bilateral Cooperation

Tazeen Akhtar

Pakistan and Republic of Lithuania has completed 30 years of diplomatic relations with success and harmony on most of bilateral, regional and international affairs that depicts the mutual understanding and commonalities between the two states as well as the contributions of diplomats of both sides.

Pakistan recognised Lithuania’s independence on 8 September 1991. The two countries established their diplomatic relations on 31 May 1994. The two countries are commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

The culmination in the bilateral relations is the visit of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Egidijus Meilunas to Pakistan who held 7th Round of Pakistan-Lithuania Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) in Islamabad on 24 May 2024 with Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe), Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan. The Lithuanian delegation also included non-resident Ambassador Recardas Degutis and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

7th Round of Pakistan-Lithuania Bilateral Political Consultations

Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania , Mr. Masood Khan’s efforts to keep Pakistani public aware about Lithuania are appreciative. Mr. and Mrs. Masood Khan hosted a reception in honor of visiting high level delegation at his residence in the same evening. Leader of House in the Senate of Pakistan, Ms Sherri Rehman graced the reception as chief guest. Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan was also present.

Former MD PTDC Mr. Salman Javed conduted the ceremony. The reception was attended by selective guests from all sectors including MOFA , government , civil society, business community and senior media persons.

Vice Minister, Mr. Egidijus Meilunas, in his keynote address, spoke highly about bilateral relations , present status and the prospects to be explored and tapped in the future.

He said, ” Lithuania and Pakistan worked together in difficult times. We can work on regional security issues in Europe and South Asia. Both sides have readiness to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation. We can increase our cooperation in trade, economic side, cyber security, electronics, engineering and in other fields.”

The visiting dignitary welcomed Pakistani students to Lithuania and stressed upon developing the people to people contacts as well. He praised Honorary Consul Masood Khan for properly representing Lithuania in Pakistan.

The Vice Minister expressed solidarity with Ukraine and condemned Russian aggression against the neighboring country. He said that Lithuania as the member of European Union for last 20 years, stands at solid position on Ukraine crisis that Ukraine should be independent, sovereign in its decisions, peace should be restored there and freedom is the right of Ukrainian people.

He expressed determination that Europe will continue fight against aggression and strengthen global democratic community.

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Here it is worth mentioning that Lithuania takes Russia’s war against Ukraine as it has caused a global food and energy crisis, affecting many developing countries in Asia. Therefore, the efforts of all countries to stop Russian aggression are crucial.

Senator Sherry Rehman in her address as chief guest welcomed the delegation from Lithuania and assured her full support in the promotion of mutual ties. She recalled the visit of former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto that was the first ever visit of high official from Pakistan to Lithuania on Feb 21, 2023. It was only after the assistance Lithuania extended to Pakistan in floods 2022. Sherry Rehman thanked the delegation for assistance in her speech.

She appreciated the success of Lithuania in converting to renewable energy with more than 40% utilization there. She shared that Pakistan is also looking forward to clean and green future. She sought joint ventures in this sector between the two countries.

“The contact between Pakistani port Karachi and Lithuanian port Klaipėda will be accelerator in the building of bilateral cooperation, Sherry said.

“Pakistan is ready to share experiences in working on youth and formation of Parliamentary group in the Senate of Pakistan for facilitation to construction of solid basis for mutual cooperation, Sherry Rehman concluded.

Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.Lithuania is a developed country with a high income, advanced economy, ranking 37th in the Human Development Index (HDI) and 19th in the World Happiness Report. The population in 2022 was counted as 2.832 Million by World Bank. It has common borders with Poland, Belarus and Latvia.

Earlier at the 7th Round of Political Consultations the two sides agreed to enhance high-level exchanges and cooperation, especially in the spheres of trade and investment, parliamentary exchanges, education, Information technology, labour mobility, connectivity, and cooperation in multilateral forums.

Former FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid an official visit to Lithuania at the invitation of Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

The Foreign Ministers’ meeting focused on developing political dialogue, the international community’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine and regional security issues in Europe and South Asia, including the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the terrorist threat and strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Pakistan.

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