LITHUANIA’S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MET WITH CANADIAN MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE
On 4 May in Vilnius, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day and discussed perspectives of economic cooperation between the European Union and Canada, issues of energy security and nuclear energy, as well as possibilities of bilateral cooperation in Afghanistan.
The Ministers agreed that it was necessary to continue allotting financial support to Afghanistan and dedicating most attention to such poor provinces as the province of Ghor. Minister V.Ušackas suggested for Canadian development cooperation experts to come to the province of Ghor and to implement joint Canadian-Lithuanian projects.
“Lithuania is actively implementing development cooperation projects in Afghanistan, the province of Ghor, and is looking for partners that could contribute to the implementation of important infrastructure projects,” said Minister V.Ušackas.
On 6 May in Prague, the EU-Canada Summit will take place, during which it is intended to discuss the economic partnership between the EU and Canada, global financial crisis, climate change, issues of energy and foreign policy – the situation in Afghanistan, the Middle East and the Eastern neighbourhood.
“Lithuania expects that during the summit, the EU and Canada will officially launch negotiations towards a deepened economic partnership agreement, said Minister V.Ušackas.
In 2008, the trade turnover between Lithuania and Canada was 729 million Litas (211.3 million Euros). The Lithuanian trade balance with Canada was positive and amounted to 616.4 million Litas (178.7 million Euros). In 2008, Lithuanian exports to Canada increased by 250%, as compared with 2007.
