“This is a historic visit that coincides with historical dates meaningful for Lithuania and for India. The role of India – the world’s largest democracy and one of the most influential countries in the Asia region – is key for the development of global policies. We have a shared interest to support the international rule of law, defend democratic values and protect the world order based on UN principles. We are ready to strengthen collaborative work within EU formats and to build up India’s profile in Lithuania,” the President said.
President Gitanas Nausėda suggested that the Indian Vice President should consider the possibility of opening his country's embassy in Lithuania. “We have established a secure legal framework for developing cooperation. We believe that bilateral collaboration could be reinforced at the institutional level. Therefore, I have proposed to the Vice President to open his country’s embassy in Lithuania – which would increase India’s profile across the region and ensure its closer contacts with EU member states,” the President said.
He also underlined that trade and economic cooperation between the two countries had untapped potential. The President invited Indian investors to open and develop their businesses in Lithuania and to discover the positive experience of Indian companies operating here. Lithuania has become a regional center of excellence for telecommunications, financial technologies, life sciences (bio and laser technologies), and food industry. It also has international competence in developing and implementing floating LNG terminal projects. The President expressed hope that negotiations on the EU-India free trade agreement would resume soon.
During the visit, three agreements were signed on expanding cooperation between Lithuania and India in agriculture, culture and foreign affairs: a work plan for 2019-2022 on cooperation in agriculture and related fields, a cultural exchange programme for 2019-2021 and a protocol on exchange of instruments of ratification of the treaty on extradition.
President Gitanas Nausėda emphasized need to translate historical and cultural links between Lithuania and India into closer bilateral bonds and invited India to establish a center of culture in Lithuania, which would introduce the Lithuanian people to India’s rich cultural landscape and traditions.
The visit of the Indian Vice President to Lithuania coincides with meaningful historical dates: the 30th anniversary of the Baltic Way, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of freedom and independence, and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
The last state visit by a Lithuanian president to India was in 2001.
