IN ABU DHABI, LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES OPPORTUNITIES FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN LITHUANIA AND THE UAE
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis, who is on a working visit to the United Arab Emirates, held a meeting with the U.A.E. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on May 8. At the meeting, Lithuanian Foreign Minister called for enhancing political dialogue between the countries and to improve conditions for mutually beneficial economic partnership. The conversation also focused on the cooperation of the European Union with the countries in the Persian Gulf, important regional issues were also discussed. Lithuanian Foreign Minister assured that the EU was ready to apply all the existing political, legal and economic instruments to further promote relations with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
“Lithuania’s EU Presidency will bring us an opportunity to deepen relations with our partners in Europe and worldwide, so, we are sure, it will also contribute to further promotion of the relations with the United Arab Emirates, especially within the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council framework. I think there is a shared willingness to make EU-GCC relations deeper, more political and strategic. Next EU-GCC Ministerial this year should cement this deeper dialogue,” the Minister said.
During the visit, Ažubalis signed the Lithuania-U.A.E. Air Transport Agreement. A decision was taken to finalise and sign agreements on double taxation avoidance, and investment promotion and protection. These agreements should open the door to bilateral economic cooperation, trade and investment.
“Lithuania and the U.A.E. share as one of the guiding principles that the country’s real wealth lies with its people. Therefore, we agree that the country’s engine of economic development must be education and science,” the Foreign Minister said.
According to him, Lithuania and the U.A.E. have good opportunities to cooperate in the fields of science, culture, innovation, high-tech, renewable energy and medicine.
During the visit at the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi on May 7, Ažubalis gave a lecture “Lithuania: a Hub in a Centre of Europe” and also emphasized that the country’s educated population was its most valuable asset. Students from the U.A.E. were invited to study at higher educational institutions in Lithuania.
“We have already had medical students from the United Arab Emirates in Lithuania. We want to encourage this trend – to invite your young generation to turn more towards non-traditional study destinations and choose Lithuania for your studies. Lithuania is a dynamic European country and the qualifications of our universities are recognized throughout the European Union and therefore throughout the world,” Ažubalis said.
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