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Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas and the delegation are on a one-day visit to Vilnius.In their meeting, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius and Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas discussed the development of the bilateral relations, economic cooperation, energy and the priorities of the Lithuanian EU Presidency.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister has expressed his appreciation of the current state of the bilateral relations, noting that they share the same approach on many issues. “I hope that the business forum held on the occasion of this visit will help finding new areas for joint initiatives and projects that will provide a boost to our economic cooperation,” – said Algirdas Butkevičius.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister thanked the Czech Republic for their participation in the NATO air policing mission through the patrol over the Baltic air space in Zuokniai, as well as for supporting Lithuania’s candidacy as regards the non-permanent UN Security Council membership and the OECD membership.

“The Czech Republic and Lithuania are reliable partners in NATO and the EU. We are ready to share our EU Presidency experience with you”, – said Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas.

Speaking of the upcoming EU Presidency, the Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius noted that the preparations reached the final stage. “Our priorities include strengthening and restoring confidence in the EU economy, encouraging competitiveness and creating jobs, building closer ties with Eastern partners, as well as keeping an open road for further enlargement. Europe is strong and vibrant, and we are confident that together we will overcome problems caused by the crisis. The Lithuanian Presidency is committed to make a significant contribution in this regard.

Prime Minister Butkevičius also pointed out that during its Presidency, Lithuania will focus on creation of the EU internal energy market. Nečas welcomed Lithuania’s objective and stressed that the Czech Republic strongly supported the formation of the EU’s single energy area.

The Czech Prime Minister expressed his delight at the bilateral trade and business relations that have intensified recently: Lithuania is the largest trade partner among the Baltic States. “Our entrepreneurs, who participate in the Vilnius forum, can see good prospects for investment”, said Nečas.

The Lithuanian and Czech Prime Ministers addressed the business forum in Vilnius, with finance, medicine, information technologies, transport, energy and other representatives from twenty Czech companies attending the forum.

Last year, the trade turnover between Lithuania and the Czech Republic grew by 19.7%, and Lithuania’s export went up by 13%. The Czech Republic ranks 22nd among Lithuania’s export partners. Last year Czech tourist flows to Lithuania grew by 8.5%. Lithuania largely imports medicines, automobiles and other vehicles, and parts of locomotives and rolling-stock.

The Czech Republic ranks 35th by the share of foreign direct investment in Lithuania. The highest investment came to the wholesale and retail trade as well as vocational, scientific, and technological activities.

The meeting with Speaker of the Seimas Vydas Gedvilas and opening of the Moravian Art Exhibition at the Seimas Exhibition Galery is also on the agenda of the Czech Prime Minister Nečas. The Czech Prime Minister is also going to meet students of the European Humanities University and visit Vilnius Railway Station, where he is going to see a demonstration of double-deck passenger trains, which were bought in the Czech Republic; Lithuania plans to buy ten trains of this type in total.

The Czech Prime Minister will also lay flowers at the Antakalnis Memorial and pay tribute to those killed in the struggle for independence of Lithuania.

Government Information Office