Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (???), who heads Taiwan’s Baltic states friendship group in Taiwan’s legislature, said Monday he has invited several Lithuania parliamentarians, including the speaker, to visit Taiwan when the COVID-19 pandemic eases.

Chiu said he sent invitations to Seimas Speaker Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, Taiwan friendship group head Matas Maldeikis, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Žygimantas Pavilionis a few days ago.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator said he appreciated Lithuania’s donation of 20,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Taiwan and the Baltic country’s continued support for Taiwan on the international stage despite Beijing’s pressure.

In a statement issued Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it welcomed Chiu’s initiative to promote parliamentary diplomacy between Taiwan and Lithuania.

MOFA praised Lithuania for “standing in the frontline in defending democracy” and expressed faith that Taiwan and Lithuania will continue to deepen their cooperation.

It noted that over the past two years, more than half of the country’s parliamentarians wrote to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), to support Taiwan’s bid to participate in the global health body.

MOFA also criticized China for taking retaliatory actions against Lithuania because of its decision to exchange offices with Taiwan, and said it will continue to work with the United States, the European Union and other like-minded countries to support Lithuania against suppression from autocratic regimes.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel