Lithuanian lawmaker says China open to normalising relations

VILNIUS - China appears inclined to negotiate on normalising relations with Lithuania, the chairman of the Seimas foreign affairs committee said on Wednesday after a briefing by the foreign minister.

"We have heard the current information regarding negotiations with China on the normalisation of relations and were informed that talks will continue. As we understand it, the Chinese are now inclined to meet, communicate and negotiate," Motuzas told reporters after a closed committee meeting.

Motuzas noted that during the meeting it was emphasised that any decisions made on this matter must be based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and international obligations.

Relations between Vilnius and Beijing soured in 2021 after Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a Taiwanese Representative Office in the country.

Motuzas said the issue of relations with China cannot be resolved without taking this into account.

"We cannot treat our partners arbitrarily; we must evaluate very responsibly and discuss on the principle of equality. The head of the Taiwanese Representative Office understands the responsibility and promised to show that they will indeed bring benefits to the Lithuanian economy," the politician said.

However, according to him, information presented during the meeting showed that while Taiwan had promised 1.2 billion euros over five years since the office opened, it has so far invested about 500 million euros during that period.

Lithuanian-Chinese relations are being more actively reconsidered as the government changes. Prime Minister-designate Mindaugas Sinkevicius has said several scenarios regarding relations with Beijing are being prepared, with decisions expected in the autumn.

China, for its part, has said it is open to dialogue on restoring diplomatic relations but expects Lithuania to take steps to rectify the current situation.