Speeches

Remarks by President Dalia Grybauskaitė at the Opening Ceremony of the Lithuanian National Day at EXPO 2010

Honorable hosts of this excellent exhibition,
Dear guests,

I am happy to extend my congratulations to China for staging this world exhibition for all to see and enjoy.
Such spectacular events like the Beijing Olympic Games and the Shanghai EXPO demonstrate China's global presence and huge potential.

This exposition is also an opportunity to distant countries - such as Lithuania and China - to know each other better.
Lithuanians discovered China already back in the 17th century. Today, some Lithuanian people and companies are well known in China.

I wholeheartedly believe that the image of my country, presented in the EXPO as a vibrant nation set for a breath-taking flight, is not accidental.

Therefore, I invite to continue strengthening our cooperation. In such important sectors as IT, communications, high technologies and internet solutions. In sports - since basketball already has become the visit card of Lithuania. In culture - where our musicians, film-makers and artists have established many contacts. I cannot imagine how "a better life in a better city" can be achieved without closer cooperation in these spheres.

It is human contacts that break the walls and build bridges. First important steps are already made - high-level visits are taking place; this year the Beijing Foreign Studies University has started Lithuanian language studies; some secondary schools in Vilnius have included Chinese into their list of foreign languages.

In exactly one month, on November 25, the Confucius Institute will be opened at Vilnius University. Let's follow the same pace.