President Grybauskaitė at World Lithuanian Youth Summit: Young people’s ideas create Lithuania’s success

Approximately 2,000 people have gathered in the meeting aimed at bringing closer young people living in Lithuania and abroad, unite them for common goals and implement new ideas.

“Lithuania is a dynamic, smart, creative and active country. Thus everyone’s contribution is significant. The meeting encourages to find new common ideas which would strengthen our country. Togetherness, common activities and ideas of young people from Lithuania and all over the world create our country’s success story,” the president said.

The president noted that new, ingenious and attractive ways to enhance Lithuanian identity should always be sought. It is necessary to rally in communities and stay in touch with Lithuanians across the globe. Young people who participate in the meeting can contribute to creating Lithuania’s youth by bold, ideas and original creative projects.

“I am pleased that 20,000 Lithuanians returned last year, although immigration has not yet stopped,” the head of state told journalists in Prienai.

For this reason the president noted the importance of such events like the World Lithuanian Youth Summit which allows representatives of various fields share experience.

“Such events are crucial where people of different professions, both those residing in Lithuania and abroad, can meet and share experience, possibilities to return to Lithuania and most of all to see if there is anything they can do to help Lithuania. Because everyone is and feels Lithuanian, and the duty to help the country remains a value of every Lithuanian,” Grybauskaitė said.

Opened on Thursday, the four-day event features addresses and discussions by more than 150 prominent figures from business, culture, politics and science. Youth projects in various fields will also be presented during the meeting, which will also include a career fair, creative workshops, sports events and concerts by famous bands, film screening and theatre performances every evening.

Speakers on Friday will include Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius, theater director Oskaras Koršunovas, prominent businessmen, cultural and political figures.