Lithuania wants to restore diplomatic ties with China, says presidential advisor

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Lithuania wants to restore diplomatic ties with China, Marius Cesnulevicius, the Lithuanian president’s national security advisor, revealed Monday.

“Restoring normal diplomatic relations would be an aspiration. Do we have to give up our principles and our values for that? No, but there must be a discussion,” Cesnulevicius was quoted by the Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT as saying.

Cesnulevicius emphasized that China is not viewed as an adversary. “Since China is not our enemy, relations must be normalized one way or another,” he said.

Noting that the Presidential Office supports resuming full diplomatic ties, Cesnulevicius said: “Discussions are ongoing, but I cannot present a specific plan on what will be done and when.”

He also stressed that China should not be equated with Russia or Belarus.

“We differ in our approach to people, to human freedoms; there are indeed many differences, but China does not pose an existential threat to us,” he explained.

China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania after the latter allowed Taiwan to open a trade office in 2021.