On May 26, Lithuania, a Baltic country, is set to hold the second round of presidential elections, which has garnered global attention due to the new president’s role in shaping the country’s stance towards Russia, Ukraine, and Taiwan. Despite the upcoming election, the 2024 Taiwan-Lithuania economic and trade investment delegation continued their visit unaffected by the election climate. The delegation engaged in exchanges with Lithuanian businesses and officials to actively promote practical cooperation and foster international friendship.
The delegation, which included WTCC President Li Tianqi, CIECA Executive Director Jin Jiyuan, and Lin-kou Innovation Park Operations Manager Li Zhenyu, participated in the “2024 Taiwan-Lithuania Economic and Trade Investment and Innovation Visit” from May 13 to 18.
On Tuesday, the delegation visited the local laser manufacturing company Light Conversion and attended a welcome reception hosted by the Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania. In the afternoon of the 15th, the “Beauty of Taiwan” European tour exhibition was inaugurated at the Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania, showcasing 22 paintings by eight artists curated by exhibition organizer Su Huanhao, highlighting Taiwan’s rich artistic creation and diverse culture worldwide.
Taiwan Representative in Lithuania Wang Xuehong believes that while Lithuania’s current president, Gitanas Nauseda, had suggested during the campaign that the “Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania” should be renamed to stabilize relations with China, the cooperation between Taiwan and Lithuania is increasingly solid. Civil exchanges are frequent, and officials at all levels of the Lithuanian government acknowledge Taiwan’s international position and contributions. Nauseda’s statements were seen as merely campaign rhetoric.
The Taiwan delegation of over 30 members has promoted bilateral economic, trade, and technological exchanges between Taiwan and Lithuania, while also showcasing the “Beauty of Taiwan” and leveraging cultural and artistic efforts to advance grassroots diplomacy.
A delegation member with over 30 years of business experience in Europe stated that the main objectives of this trip were to exchange information, establish local contacts, and recognizing that all economic and trade cooperation takes time to build trust and align interests. While Lithuania’s membership in the EU and NATO presents development potential, concrete business investments require careful evaluation over the long term.
On May 15, Li Tianqi and ETCC President Lin Wanrui officially established the Lithuania Taiwan Chamber of Commerce by handing over the inaugural chamber flag to Ye Weihui, the first chairman of the chamber. Witnessed by Wang Xuehong, Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Mr. Karolis Zemaitis, and WTCC Honorary President Huang Xingde.
CIECA and the Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (ALCCIC) co-hosted the second “Taiwan-Lithuania Economic Cooperation Conference” on the 15th, with specialized reports and exchanges on topics such as “Smart Cities and Digital Transformation,” “Innovation,” and “Investment Opportunities.”
Managers introduced AIoT solutions spanning smart cities, retail, transportation, and energy at ASUS. The Lin-kou Innovation Park highlighted Taiwan’s startup ecosystem under the theme “Taiwan Startup Day.” Additionally, global investment manager Mr. Dominykas Stankevicius from Taiwan Invest Co., and Bank of Taiwan’s Lithuania Branch Team Leader Zhong Xiaoling presented investment and financing solutions from Central and Eastern Europe, including briefing sessions for five chosen companies under the “Startup Expansion to Europe Program.”
Šarūnas Pundzius, Marketing Director at Invertus, showcased the company’s fintech operations, while Gintare Baciuliene, Vice President of Global Growth at the Lithuanian Investment Agency, explained the investment landscape in Lithuania.
Aside from the bilateral meetings, the delegation also conducted various industrial visits in Lithuania and met with the Lithuanian Innovation Board and Vilnius City Government with a focus on advancing towards “smart” and “innovative” cooperation opportunities between Taiwan and Lithuania.