Xiamen, Lithuania to deepen ties

The coastal city of Xiamen in East China's Fujian province and the Republic of Lithuania will seek to deepen economic and trade links, officials from both sides said during a meeting in Xiamen on Sept 17.

Guo Guirong, deputy mayor of Xiamen, extended a warm welcome to the Lithuanian delegation, led by Lina Sabaitienė, the country's vice minister of the economy.

The Lithuanian officials also plan to attend the 2017 China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which is being held from Sept 18 to 21, during their stay in Xiamen.

Guo briefed the delegation on Xiamen's economic and social development.

Xiamen is playing a key strategic role in China's Belt and Road Initiative and has become one of China's major international shipping centers. After more than three decades of reform and opening-up, Xiamen has made fruitful progress in its development, according to Guo.

In 2014, the Xiamen Area of the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone was set up, which further promoted the city's economic and trade development, Guo said.

Guo noted that his city has maintained frequent exchanges with the Lithuanian city of Kaunas since they established a sister city relationship in 2001. The trade between Xiamen and Lithuania was up 30 percent year-on-year in volume terms during the first eight months of 2017, Guo said, adding that he hoped the vice minister's visit could help consolidate their trade ties.

Sabaitienė agreed with Guo, and expressed her eagerness to see more Xiamen-based enterprises make investments in her country.

The vice minister said that this was the third time she had come to Xiamen to attend the CIFIT. She said she wished to take the opportunity to strengthen her country's economic and trade ties with Xiamen and other Chinese cities.

During the meeting, Sabaitienė also explained her country's preferential talent policies as a member of the European Union.

Shao Yuqin, deputy director of the Xiamen foreign and overseas Chinese affairs office, attended the meeting.