A Taiwanese representation office started operations in Lithuania on Thursday, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry has announced.
“The blessed opening will charter a new and promising course for the bilateral relations between Taiwan and Lithuania,” the foreign ministry said in the announcement.
Read more: Taiwan representation will not have diplomatic status, Lithuanian FM says
The Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius will be headed by Eric Huang, currently Taiwan's Chief of Mission in Latvia, according to the ministry.
“Taiwan and Lithuania have huge potential for cooperation in various industries such as semi-conductor, laser, fintech and many others,” it said.
The office in Vilnius will also cover consular affairs in Lithuania, while the Taipei Mission in Latvia will continue to serve Latvia and Estonia, according to the announcement.
The Taiwanese Representative Office in #Lithuania🇱🇹 is open & ready to expand exchanges between #Taiwan🇹🇼 & the #EU🇪🇺 member state. We're deeply grateful for the support of @LithuanianGovt & friends worldwide who backed our countries in making this great day possible. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/O2bUxWHTwb
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) November 18, 2021
The island's representation has been a source of tensions between Vilnius and Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of China.
Read more: China embassy says Lithuania to blame for sour Vilnius-Beijing ties
In particular, the representation is to use the name ‘Taiwan’ instead of ‘Taipei’, a common denomination of the self-ruling island's offices in other countries.
Beijing has said Lithuania's move violates the One China principle and has recalled its ambassador from Vilnius. Lithuanian Ambassador Diana Mickevičienė returned from Beijing for consultations in early September.
Business ties
Lithuanian businesses say that trade ties with China have soured because of the row between Vilnius and Beijing.
However, the Lithuanian government expects that the development of relations with Taiwan will help companies find new markets.
In late October, a Taiwanese business delegation visited Lithuania to explore investment opportunities and look for trade partners.
Lithuania and Taiwan signed six memorandums of understanding during the recent visit, “ushering in a shared vision of blueprint for closer cooperation ahead, laying a solid foundation for greater bonds of our two peoples”, according to the press release.
“Taiwan will cherish and promote this new friendship based on our shared values,” it said.
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