“This is the second meeting in less than half a year’s time. I believe this proves the fact that the relations between Lithuania and China are gradually strengthening in various areas, in particular, economic cooperation”, said Prime Minister Butkevičius and once again thanked for the invitation to the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference.

At the meeting the Lithuanian Prime Minister noted that China is the Lithuania’s strategic partner in Asia, and that the Government aims to further develop and deepen the dialogue by finding new business opportunities between the countries, as well as contacts between people.

The Chinese Prime Minister said that he appreciates the personal input of Prime Minister Butkevičius in improving relations between Lithuania and China, and added that the Chinese market needs production of particularly high quality. “We are aware that the Lithuanian production is of particularly high quality”, said Li Keqiang.

On 17 November of last year a Tripartite Protocol was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania, the State Food and Veterinary Service and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China on veterinary and public health requirements for dairy products to be exported to China. The Chinese institutions confirmed that the Lithuanian dairy products meet with the highest quality requirements.

At the meeting the Head of the Government emphasised the need to open the Chinese market to the dairy products as soon as possible. “Lithuania is awaiting these certificates, so we expect that the negotiation process and the permit issuance process will be soon completed”, said Prime Minister Butkevičius.

The Prime Ministers discussed cooperation in the logistics and transport sectors. “Several Chinese companies have already started their activities in Lithuania, therefore, we also see a huge potential in investment, especially through One Belt, One Road project initiative”, said the Lithuanian Prime Minister and personally reminded of the invitation to organize a meeting of the Ministers of Transport in the China’s + 16 format in Lithuania in 2017.

The Chinese and Lithuanian Heads of the Government welcomed the 25 years of diplomatic relations, and discussed the mutual cultural programs to commemorate this event. The potential for cooperation in the fields of education and science was also discussed.