Sinkevičius says talks pave way to restore diplomatic representation

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said talks between the Foreign Ministry and a Chinese delegation could pave the way to restore diplomatic representation in Beijing and Vilnius, LRT reported on Saturday.

The meeting, held in Lithuania this week, went smoothly and focused on the countries’ interest in restoring diplomatic representation, which ended in 2021, Sinkevičius told reporters. He said both sides were interested in taking that step.

Foreign Ministry representatives and the visiting Chinese delegation discussed the possibility of restoring representation on Thursday. The countries agreed to continue consultations but did not comment on the details of the meeting, BNS reported.

Lithuania-China relations deteriorated in 2021 after Vilnius opened a Taiwanese representative office. Such offices in other countries use the name Taipei. Beijing then unilaterally lowered its diplomatic representation from ambassador to chargé d’affaires. After Lithuania declined to issue new accreditations to Chinese diplomats, no Chinese diplomats remained in the country from May last year.

Delfi reported this week that the Foreign Ministry asked the Taiwanese representative office in September to change its name, offering several bilateral economic agreements and a special envoy position for Taiwan within the ministry in return. Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said discussions had taken place, but not in the form of an ultimatum.