Skuodis to replace Nausėda at 17 + 1 leaders meeting with China

The presidency declares that issues important to Lithuania will not be accepted at Tuesday’s meeting, and Lithuania is in favor of dialogue between China and the European Union.

“We received an invitation from China to participate in a remote video conference of 17 + 1 Heads of State and Government on February 9. No important decisions will be made for Lithuania at this meeting. The president will not attend this meeting,” he said on Monday. President Antanas Bubnelis to BNS.

According to him, “Lithuania is interested in further development of mutually beneficial bilateral relations with China, which would be based on respect for democratic values, human rights and freedoms of both parties.”

“Lithuania, as a member of the European Union, is also in favor of the EU-China dialogue,” said the president’s representative.

A spokeswoman for M. Skuodis confirmed to the BNS that Lithuania would be represented by the Minister of Transport and Communications at this meeting.

Lithuania has been participating in 17 + 1 (previously 16 + 1) format meetings since 2012.

Critics say the format is fragmenting the unity of the EU. Proponents say it is a useful tool for communicating with China, as Lithuania cannot communicate on a bilateral level as high as major European countries.

Chinese investments in Lithuania and bilateral trade have not yet reached a very large scale, but last year the flow of rail freight from Lithuania to Lithuania increased unprecedentedly.

In a report published last year, the Lithuanian intelligence services stated that China is expanding its influence around the world, securing financial support from other countries on political matters important to Beijing.

The document says that China’s pursuit of technological advantages and active investment penetration increase the vulnerability of other countries and the risk of losing control of infrastructure.