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India and Lithuania on Friday took an important step to further strengthen mutual relations. During this, Secretary (West) Ambassador Sibi George met Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Limonas Talat-Kelpsa. In this meeting, both the countries discussed all aspects of their relations and exchanged views on global issues.

The meeting particularly discussed trade relations and cooperation in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Lithuania’s Foreign Secretary termed the India-European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as a historic achievement, which has boosted trade and cooperation between the two countries.

“Secretary (West) @AmbSibiGeorge met Mr. Limonas Talat-Kelpsa, Political Director, @LithuaniaMFA. Both sides discussed the entire gamut of India-Lithuania bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual benefit,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a tweet.

The meeting signals the continued deepening of relations between New Delhi and Vilnius, especially within the framework of the larger India-EU Partnership. The discussion follows a year of high-frequency diplomacy aimed at increasing India’s presence in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lithuania’s recent steps have made it clear that it has now moved away from China’s economic influence and has become a supporter of strengthening India-EU relations. Furthermore, Lithuania is looking at India as an important technological and trading partner.

Let us tell you, relations between India and Lithuania started in 1991, when India officially recognized Lithuania as an independent nation. Subsequently, diplomatic relations were established between the two countries on 25 February 1992. Relations between the two countries have developed significantly since the first political talks in 1992.

Over the past few years, both countries have also enhanced diplomatic infrastructure. Lithuania opened its embassy in New Delhi on 1 July 2008, and has three honorary consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata. At the same time, India opened an Honorary Consulate in Vilnius in 2015, and established its Resident Embassy in Vilnius in March 2023, further strengthening its commitment to India-Lithuania relations.

This conversation reaffirms the need to maintain regular cooperation and dialogue between the two countries. This meeting has proved to be an important step in deepening the growing diplomatic partnership between India and Lithuania, based on shared democratic values ​​and mutual respect.