Both sides discussed furthering relations in sectors such as trade and investments
India and Lithuania discussed steps to further strengthen their bilateral relationship at the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in New Delhi on Tuesday (November 21, 2023).
 
This meeting marks a significant step in the ongoing diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two nations.
 
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the FOC provided an opportunity for reviewing bilateral engagements and for exchanging views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
 
These included developments in their respective neighbourhoods, EU, the Ukraine conflict, India’s Presidency of G20, cooperation in multilateral fora, and UNSC reforms. "Both sides also discussed furthering relations in sectors such as trade and investments, and cultural linkages," the MEA said.
 
The Indian delegation was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Lithuanian side was represented by Egidijus Meilūnas, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. 
 
India and Lithuania have agreed to conduct the next round of their Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. 
 
India and Lithuania share a warm and friendly bilateral relationship, and have regular exchanges at both political and official levels. Trade between India and Lithuania has increased in recent years, despite the adverse effects of the pandemic.
 
India operationalized a new resident Mission in Vilnius with effect from March 31, 2023.
 
Operationalization of the Indian Mission in Lithuania will help expand India’s diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations and strategic cooperation, enable growth of bilateral trade, investment, and economic engagements, facilitate stronger people-to-people contacts and enable more sustained political outreach in multilateral form.
 
The Indian Mission in Lithuania will also better assist the Indian community and protect their interests, the MEA said after the Mission began operations.
 
India recognized Lithuania (along with the other Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia) on September 7, 1991 after acceptance of their independence by the erstwhile USSR. Diplomatic relations were established with Lithuania on February 25, 1992.
 
Lithuania opened its Embassy in New Delhi on July 1, 2008 and has Honorary Consuls in Mumbai and in Bengaluru. An Honorary Consul of India in Vilnius has been in operation since October 2014.