Press release, 2 March 2016
As part of her official visit to Japan, Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. During the meeting, the Speaker of the Seimas emphasised that Lithuania appreciated the Japanese support for our country’s accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The interlocutors also focused on the economic cooperation strengthened yearly between the two countries and discussed energy security issues.
“Lithuania and Japan have well-established and deepening economic relations. We enjoy the growth of two-way trade and tourist flows. Apart from nuclear cooperation, new opportunities arise to use the Japanese experience and technology in Klaipėda LNG terminal, Kruonis PSP and development of renewable energy,” said Loreta Graužinienė.
Taking the opportunity, the Seimas Speaker handed over a letter from the Lithuanian Prime Minister inviting his counterpart to visit our country.
Economy and trade were also put at the centre of the meeting with Yoji Muto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs. The meeting provided insights into the EU–Japan Free Trade Agreement negotiations. The Speaker noted that Lithuania supported the talks in hope they would be over this year.
“The Free Trade Agreement would clearly provide further impetus for the development of the economic relations, in particular, by opening up the market for the Lithuanian dairy and meat exports to Japan,” stressed Mrs Graužinienė.
Furthermore, the Speaker of the Seimas unveiled the Lithuanian potential in tourism, trade, investment and innovation, at the meeting with the leadership of KEIDANREN, Japan Business Federation. The politician invited Japanese businessmen to exploit the well-developed transport and logistics infrastructure in our country to safely and quickly transport goods through Lithuania to other European markets, in particular by making use of the ice-free Port of Klaipėda.
The official visit of the delegation under the leadership of the Speaker of the Seimas, Loreta Graužinienė, to Japan on 28 February – 5 March 2016 is organised in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Japan.
Photo of the Government of Japan is attached.
Rosvaldas Gorbačiovas, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6005,
mob. +370 698 42 071, e-mail: rosvaldas.gorbaciovas@lrs.lt