By Jonathan Chin / Staff writer, with CNA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) yesterday hailed the importance of security and economic ties between Taiwan and Lithuania as he met with a delegation of Lithuanian lawmakers in Taipei.

The eight-member Seimas delegation is led by Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group chairperson Ruslanas Baranovas, and includes Lithuanian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Defense chairperson Giedrimas Jeglinskas, and Committee on Foreign Affairs vice chairman Matas Maldeikis, according to a ministry statement.

Taiwan and Lithuania are both on the front line of democracy’s defense against authoritarian expansionism and share a common belief in universal values, Lin was cited as saying.

Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Taipei is willing to work with the Lithuanian government on developing self-defense capabilities, supply chain resiliency, and cooperation in arms, drones and artificial intelligence industries, he said.

The two nations are to continue to strengthen their economic resilience, provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and maintain unity among the global alliance of democracies, Lin said.

Taiwan in November last year sent a delegation of drone makers to visit Lithuania, leading to a joint venture between the two nations’ uncrewed vehicle industries to manufacture components, he said.

The collaboration in drone parts demonstrated that Taiwan’s and Lithuania’s uncrewed vehicle sectors have complementary capabilities that should be developed, Lin said.

The Lithuanian delegation — the first to visit Taiwan following that nation’s general election in November last year — is a show of Vilnius’ willingness to continue its support of Taiwan and maintain the bilateral relationship, Baranovas said.

The world’s democracies must enhance their cooperation and solidarity to deal with the surge in geopolitical uncertainty, he said, adding that global security could only be maintained if treated as an integrated and inseparable whole.

The two nations’ efforts to deepen bilateral ties in security, economic resilience and culture are building on existing foundations, he said.

Lithuania could serve as Taiwan’s link to broadened participation in Europe-led initiatives, Baranovas said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) is to host the Lithuanian delegation at a banquet today, the ministry said.