The arrival of a cross-party parliamentary delegation from Lithuania Jan. 21 is sincerely welcomed by the government and people of Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Led by Matas Maldeikis, chair of the Lithuanian parliament’s Taiwan friendship group, the 11-member group comprises Seimas deputy speakers Julius Sabatauskas, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė and Vytautas Mitalas.
During their six-day stay, members of the delegation will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and current Vice President and next president-elect Lai Ching-te, as well as attend banquets hosted by Legislative Yuan President You Si-kun and Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu, the MOFA said. They will also call on Taiwan’s National Security Council, National Development Council, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Hsinchu Science Park to exchange views on issues of mutual concern, the ministry added.
According to the MOFA, Maldeikis is a staunch Taiwan supporter, who led a parliamentarian delegation from the Baltics following the establishment of the Taiwan Representative Office in Lithuania in 2021 amid threats from China. This group is the first European delegation to visit Taiwan post-election, the ministry said, adding that the members congratulated the country on its successful elections and that the visit demonstrates solidarity between the two democracies.
Taiwan and Lithuania are both states on the frontlines of countering authoritarian expansion and share values of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law, the MOFA said. The like-minded partners have worked closely together in areas spanning economics, technology and trade, the ministry added, pledging to further deepen bilateral exchanges and friendship.
On its official X account, the MOFA said, “We welcome the cross-party #Lithuania delegation led by #Taiwan friendship group Chair @MatasMaldeikis & including deputy speakers Vytautas Mitalas, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė & @sabatauskas. Wishing the 11 friends from @LRSeimas every success during their historic visit!” (YCH-E)
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