The two leaders addressed the prevalence of COVID-19 in Lithuania and Belgium as well as the quarantine during the holidays. The President told the King of the Belgians about the decisions taken to prevent the mutated COVID19 virus.
The President thanked King Philippe for Belgium’s contribution to the regional security and defense of the Baltic States. Belgian troops have been participating in the NATO Air Policing Mission in Lithuania since 2004, and the land force are part of the enhanced forward presence battle group deployed in Lithuania.
During the conversation, the prospects for cooperation between Belgium and Lithuania in the fields of sustainable economic growth, trade, science and education were emphasized. “Lithuanian scientists and entrepreneurs are prepared for collaboration with their colleagues from Belgium in life sciences, green economy, and financial technologies”, the President said.
The President and King Philippe highlighted close historical ties between Lithuania and Belgium and agreed to strengthen the political, economic, historical and cultural connections between the two countries.
President Nausėda invited King Philippe and Queen Mathilda to visit Lithuania in 2021 if the pandemic situation improved. The last time King Phillipe visited Lithuania was in 2017.
In 2021, Lithuania and Belgium will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the re-established relations, and in 2022, the centenary of establishment of diplomatic relations.
