Lithuanian parlt speaker stresses importance of partnership, collective defense in Denmark

VILNIUS - Lithuanian Parliament Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen stressed the importance of bilateral economic, political, defense and security cooperation during her visit to Denmark on Tuesday.

"Against the backdrop of today's challenges and uncertainties, our partnership has clearly never been as important as it is today. We must make the most of the opportunities of bilateral, regional and international relations as by strengthening economic, political, collective defense and security and other areas of cooperation, we will make the Nordic-Baltic region more competitive, safer and more prosperous," she said after her meeting with Speaker of the Folketing Soren Gade.

The Nordic-Baltic format is a special platform for the two countries to discuss issues of regional importance and to pool their efforts for joint initiatives, while the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO has added "a clearer security and defense policy aspect" to regional cooperation, Cmilyte-Nielsen said.

On Wednesday, the Seimas speaker is scheduled to meet with King Frederik X of Denmark, the ministers for defense and Nordic cooperation, other Danish public officials and representatives of the industrial sector. In the evening, she will meet with members of the Lithuanian community in Denmark.