Both parties have welcomed the good and friendly bilateral relations and the growing contacts between Lithuania and Sweden. Sweden is Lithuania’s important and reliable partner, particularly as regards cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, regional security and defence. Close political and people-to-people contacts have been a distinctive feature of the bilateral relations ever since the restoration of independence.
The Prime Minister has expressed appreciation for Sweden’s long-standing support for Lithuania on its path towards consolidated statehood, and to Andreas Norlen personally for his continued attention to Lithuania and other Baltic states.
It is hoped that the bilateral relations will greatly benefit from the Swedish-Lithuanian Cooperation Fund, which is a generous gift from the Swedish Government given to Lithuania on the occasion of the centennial. The Lithuanian Government is also planning to contribute to the fund.
Among other items discussed was the Nordic-Baltic cooperation in the NB8 format, as well as regional security, inter-parliamentary relations and Sweden’s role in strengthening cooperation with Eastern Partnership countries.
Sweden is the 5th largest Lithuania’s trading partner. The parties have welcomed the prosperous economic relations, growing trade and incoming tourism flows from Sweden. Sweden has remained Lithuania’s largest investor, with nearly 3 billion euros coming from Sweden. Swedish investors happen to be among the largest job creators in Lithuania.
‘May we assure you that Lithuania will continue to promote sustainable policy as regards investments from abroad, including from Sweden. We are very much interested in business success of foreign countries. Swedish companies are invited to expand their existing investment projects and to explore other vistas for cooperation in finance, manufacturing, engineering, science and innovation’, said Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.
