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Interview: Lithuania keen to enhance business links with China: expert

Xinhua, November 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

The biggest ever business delegation from Lithuania will visit China during the fourth leaders' meeting of China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, with an aim to enhance ties, the chairman of Lithuania-China business council Osvaldas Ciuksys told Xinhua in an interview on Friday.

The delegation consists of around 50 business leaders and a dozen government officials led by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius, Ciuksys said.

Lithuania "expects a remarkable breakthrough not only on exports from Lithuania to China, but also big investment on some big projects," he said.

Ciuksys highlighted previous successful examples of cooperation between the China Merchants Group and Lithuania's Klaipeda port, as well as between Lithuania and China's telecommunications giant Huawei.

As Lithuania is one of the countries most hurt by the EU's trade embargo with Russia, businesses are evermore keen to seek new markets, he added

"For Lithuanian people, it will be encouraging to see China supportive of cooperation," said Ciuksys.

The fourth leaders' meeting of China and CEE countries will be held in east China's Suzhou city from Nov.24 to 25, the first time for China to host the meeting.

The Lithuanian delegation will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou for one week. During this time, the two sides will sign agreements of cooperation, such as between Huawei and Lithuanian universities, between the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists and the China International Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector and China Federation for Industrial Economics.

"Chinese consumers are becoming more discerning and would like to try something new. Lithuanian products are of high quality and at affordable prices. It makes us competitive in the Chinese market," he said.

During the visit, the Lithuanian side will share information on investment opportunities in Lithuania while Chinese companies such as China Merchants Group and Fun Guide will share their knowledge and experience about entering the Lithuanian market.

According to Ciuksys, the Lithuania-China business council will organize another two similar delegations to China in 2016.

Addressing the China-CEE meeting, Ciuksys said it gives "an opportunity for our country's government and business community to meet with their Chinese counterparts and discuss issues of further strengthening the cooperation ties in different fields."

"This includes not only increasing economic cooperation, but also cultural, academic, defense and people-to-people exchange issues and projects," he added. Endit