TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) on Monday expressed Taiwan’s interest in expanding cooperation with Lithuania in defense and industrial supply chain resilience.

He held talks with a Lithuanian parliamentary delegation led by Ruslanas Baranovas, chair of the Lithuania-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Areas of interest include the defense industry, drones, and artificial intelligence, thereby enhancing the resilience of democratic economies, per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Lin also emphasized continued joint humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

Lin pointed out the complementary strengths of the two countries, as demonstrated by bilateral business cooperative projects in drone component production, after he led a Taiwanese drone industry delegation to Lithuania in November.

Baranovas welcomed enhanced bilateral exchanges. He also affirmed Lithuania’s willingness to serve as a gateway for Taiwan to deepen its ties and cooperation with Europe.

In a meeting with former President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) during her visit to Lithuania in May, Baranovas said that Taiwan faces challenges similar to those of Ukraine, including military and political pressure from China. These actions undermine Taiwan’s legitimacy and are unacceptable, he said.