Lithuania keen to restore diplomatic relations with China on equal terms

Lithuania has expressed its readiness to resume diplomatic relations with China, but only on the basis of mutual respect and equality.

In an interview with local media, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas outlined the conditions under which diplomatic ties could be restored, Caliber.Az reports.

"The restoration of diplomatic relations presupposes the presence of diplomats at the ambassadorial level from both countries," Paluckas stated.

"If China sends an ambassador to Lithuania, we, in turn, will send an ambassador to Beijing."

The prime minister emphasized that these terms must be met for the resumption of diplomatic relations.

“Anything else, if it appears that Lithuania should make some concessions, these are empty interpretations," he added.

He also acknowledged that this path might prove challenging. "From the point of view of perspective, it is a pit path," Paluckas remarked.

Diplomatic relations between Lithuania and China soured in 2021 when Lithuania opened a “Taiwanese representative office” in Vilnius, at the initiative of then-Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. China, which opposes any official representation by Taiwan, responded by recalling its ambassador and downgrading diplomatic ties with Lithuania. Beijing also threatened to downgrade the status of Lithuania’s diplomatic mission in China, reclassifying it from an embassy to a representative office.

By Vafa Guliyeva