Former Lithuanian top diplomat to receive government honor in Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis is making his first visit to Taiwan from Sunday through Thursday, during which he will meet with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) and receive a government honor to recognize his contributions to promoting closer ties between the two countries.

During his five-day stay in Taiwan, Landsbergis, the top Lithuanian diplomat from December 2020 until November 2024, will receive the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon from Lai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a press release.

The honor given by the Republic of China (Taiwan) recognizes outstanding contributions to the development of the nation and can be given to both Taiwanese and foreign nationals.

Landsbergis will also meet with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) and join two separate banquets hosted by National Security Council Secretary-general Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), respectively, MOFA said.

Landsbergis will also speak at National Taiwan University (NTU) on Wednesday afternoon under the topic of "Prospects for Lithuania-Taiwan Relations and the Lessons of Russia's War on Ukraine," according to an NTU announcement.

MOFA called Landsbergis a "staunch supporter" of Taiwan during his tenure as Lithuanian foreign minister. Under his leadership, the Baltic state donated COVID-19 vaccines to Taiwan and allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius under the name "Taiwanese."

Landsbergis also published opinion pieces in international media calling on global support of Taiwan during China's military exercises surrounding it in 2022, following the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, MOFA added.

Landsbergis was also the chair of the Homeland Union (Lithuanian Christian Democrats) since 2015 before he stepped down from the post after his party lost the parliamentary election runoff in late October to Lithuania's opposition Social Democratic Party.

Also on Sunday, another Lithuanian delegation, led by Vilmantas Vitkauskas, vice-chancellor and the head of the National Crisis Management Center (NCMC) of the Chancellery of Lithuania government, and Vilijus Samuila, acting director of Communication and Cultural Diplomacy Department under the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry, is visiting Taiwan from Sunday through Saturday.

The two officials are leading a delegation consisting of five NGO experts specialized in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) to conduct exchanges on counter-disinformation practices with Taiwan, MOFA said in a separate press release.

The group is the first delegation led by Lithuanian officials visiting Taiwan since the Baltic state formed a new government in late 2024, it added.