According to the President, the LNG terminal “Independence“ that was built in South Korea marked the beginning of qualitatively new relations between both countries. The terminal, which became a guarantor of regional energy independence, is an example on ways to employ progress for ensuring national stability and prosperity. It also serves as a solid basis for increasingly closer cooperation.
Strengthening bilateral relations in the areas of high technologies and innovation was one of the highlights at the Presidents’ meeting. Although over the last five years trade between Lithuania and South Korea grew five-fold, it is still dominated by traditional goods and services. South Korea is one of the most advanced countries focusing on science, inventions and creativity. Lithuania is known in the world as an innovator in life sciences and financial technologies, and Lithuanian-made lasers are already in demand in South Korea. It has also discovered Lithuanian architects as they won an international competition for constructing a pedestrian bridge in the south of Seoul last year. Closer cooperation would most certainly better tap into the potential of both countries and promote economic growth as well as scientific progress.
Expanded cooperation ties with this highly technologically advanced country may be useful in fighting cyber threats. South Korea is a global partner of NATO, which encounters a rising surge of hostile cyber-attacks. It focused on cyber security before the Winter Olympic Games. President Dalia Grybauskaitė and President Moon Jae-In discussed cooperation between South Korea and NATO and possibilities to exchange experience in cyber defense.
Challenges to international security were also addressed at the meeting. Lithuania and South Korea share the experience of living in a complicated and unpredictable neighborhood. Dalia Grybauskaitė underscored that Lithuania supported international efforts to achieve the nuclear disarmament of North Korea and the implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations. Lithuania and South Korea, which were in the UN Security Council in 2014, continue to promote international law as a foundation for global peace.
