By Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNA
The name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania was based on a consensus reached by both sides and there is no discussion about changing it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said today.
The ministry’s remarks came after Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who took office in September last year, described a 2021 decision to let Taiwan set up a de facto embassy in Vilnius as a “mistake.”
Taiwan and Lithuania are important partners that share the values of freedom and democracy, ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) told a regular news conference in Taipei today.
Photo: AFP file photo
The two countries have continued working together to promote substantive cooperation in fields such as lasers, semiconductors and finance, enhancing democratic economic resilience, Hsiao said.
Both sides look forward to deepening bilateral relations and substantive cooperation, he said, adding that Taiwan would continue to maintain close communication with Lithuania.
China downgraded relations with Lithuania after Taiwan opened the office.
In contrast to Lithuania, countries such as the UK, the US and Australia host offices that are usually known as “Taipei” representative offices, which avoids the implication of statehood and sovereignty.
Additional reporting by Reuters