Chinese diplomats visit Lithuania in first bid to restore ties | Today’s news
(Bloomberg) — Chinese diplomats have arrived in Lithuania for their first direct engagement in the Baltic country since ties stalled over Vilnius’ support for Taiwan.
Lithuanian foreign ministry officials will meet with a Chinese delegation on Thursday to explore steps to restore official ties more than a year after China pulled its last diplomat from the Baltic state after years of strained relations.
The dispute has become one of Europe’s most prominent cases of alleged Chinese economic coercion. Now, after years of disagreements, the Baltic state is seeking a compromise that would allow it to maintain ties with Taiwan while improving relations with Beijing.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said that he did not expect a major breakthrough from the meeting and called it one of many stages of diplomatic negotiations.
“We have no great expectations to avoid great disappointments, nor do we expect any great openings or moments of great joy,” Budrys told reporters.
Instead, the discussions will “reveal the essence, expectations, demands, desires, perspectives and reactions” of each side, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevicius told reporters late Wednesday.
Relations deteriorated after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office under its own name rather than the usual “Taipei” in 2021, prompting Beijing to downgrade diplomatic relations and effectively block Lithuanian goods. Both countries have since withdrawn their diplomats.
“I leave no room for interpretations suggesting coercion or submission,” Budrys said in an interview with the 15min outlet on Tuesday. “We’re just assessing what options are available.”
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