TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Tuesday awarded the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon to former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis for his contributions to bilateral relations.
Taiwan was allowed to open a mission in Lithuania in 2021 under the name “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania,” with the Baltic nation opening its office in Taipei the following year. China downgraded its relations with Lithuania and initiated trade sanctions.
Thanks to the then-foreign minister’s unwavering support, Taiwan was allowed to use “Taiwan” for the first time to name an office in Europe, Lai said. He added that Landsbergis stood by Taiwan in the face of expanding authoritarianism, per Radio Taiwan International.
Lai thanked Lithuania for being the first European country to donate vaccines to Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Landsbergis said at the time that democracies need to take care of each other.
During the following years, the two countries cooperated on semiconductors, finance, lasers, and health, the president said.