Lithuanian president stresses importance of foreign policy ties with Poland

VILNIUS – Speaking of his foreign policy, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stressed the importance of strategic partnership with Poland and established connection with the country's leader Andrzej Duda.

"Bilateral ties, I would stress strategic partnership with Poland, and we have restored the activity of the presidents' council, and we have developed a great personal working connection with Polish President Duda, and my recent visit to Krakaw confirms that," Nauseda said during his annual press conference on Wednesday.

Nauseda also pointed out that the focus on Eastern Partnership countries, as counterbalance to Russia and Belarus' "risk factors", is one of the key elements of his foreign policy.

"We are trying to strengthen Eastern Partnership countries, first of all, morally. I have paid personal visit to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia," the president said.

He also highlighted Lithuania's ties with Germany and France and reminded of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Lithuania last year.

"It was really a special event that set a very good outlook for the future as despite certain different foreign policy stances, I believe we have a lot of common points where we can work and cooperate," Nauseda said, speaking of the French leader's visit last September.

During the second year of his presidential terms, Nauseda paid nine bilateral foreign visits and received 18 state leaders and officials in Vilnius.