Grybauskaitė expects her meeting with Xi Jinping to open Chinese markets to Lithuania

“Our businesses will definitely have support here after such a visit. It is clear that our relations and understanding are very close and warm. I believe that such a meeting will be very useful for future relations,” Grybauskaitė said in a comment after the meeting.

“Let’s see and act more broadly and always think about our interests”, she added.

The president said the meeting with Xi Jinping had focused on international trade issues, relations between China and Europe, and bilateral relations between China and Lithuania.

She described the meeting as quite successful and invited Lithuanian businesses to take advantage of China’s opening market.

“I’m glad that we have interests in common when it comes to international trade (and) global commitments on climate change,” Grybauskaitė said.

“China is taking on more responsibility for global warming issues (and) international trade issues, and, most importantly, is opening up and inviting countries to its market, which is something new and very important (…), and really beneficial for us,” she added.

Grybauskaitė is among the leaders of more than ten states who are attending an import exhibition being held Shanghai in response to criticism that China is reluctant to open up its market to foreign businesses.

China currently ranks 25th among Lithuania’s export partners and 13th in terms of imports, based on figures from Statistics Lithuania.

Some officials fear that Chia’s investments in Lithuania might also bring unwanted political influence and warn that Beijing’s exceptional attention to Eastern Europe is undermining the EU‘s unity.

Tibet’s supporters called on Grybauskaitė to pay attention to the worsening human rights situation in China during her bilateral meeting with Xi Jinping.