Taiwan delegation to visit Lithuania for high-level economic talks next week

Taipei, May 20 (CNA) Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Chern-chyi (陳正祺) will lead a 24-member delegation to Lithuania next week to discuss the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in Taipei said Friday.

The visit, which is being made at the invitation of Lithuania Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation Jovita Neliupšienė, is expected to create a partnership between the two countries to build a supply chain, the MOEA said in a statement.

During the three-day visit that will start May 25, Chen will also seek to establish a platform between Taiwan and Lithuania for high-ranking official exchanges and bilateral cooperation in wide-ranging areas, including the semiconductor, laser, electric vehicle and biotech industries, the ministry said.

In addition to the economic dialogue, other items on the Taiwanese delegation's agenda include meetings with high-ranking Lithuanian government officials, a visit an electric bus factory, and participation in a bilateral industrial cooperation conference, according to the MOEA.

The delegation will also witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between between Lithuania's Investment Promotion Agency and Taiwan's Startup Terrace, the country's largest startup village, which works to create links with other nations and attract foreign accelerator startups.

Representatives from five Taiwanese startups, who are part of Chen's delegation, will participate in an innovation exhibition in Lithuania to build connections with their counterparts in Central and Eastern Europe, the MOEA said.

Chen and his delegation are scheduled to depart Taiwan on Saturday and will stop in Belgium to visit some European Union agencies, according to the MOEA.

Last November, Taiwan opened a representative office in Lithuania to facilitate bilateral trade and economic exchanges.

Before the establishment of the representative office, officials from several Taiwan government agencies, along with experts in various fields, had visited Lithuania to explore investment opportunities and cooperation in October in 2021.

In March 2022, another delegation was sent by Taiwan to Lithuania for similar economic purposes.

Lithuania, however, has come under heavy political and economic pressure from China over the name of the office -- Taiwanese Representative Office.

Taiwan typically names its overseas representative offices "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office" or "Taipei Representative Office," in keeping with the host countries' preference to avoid any references that would imply Taiwan is a separate country from China.