VILNIUS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Current state of relations between Lithuania and Ireland contributes to further cooperating and implementing modern decisions which are important to all Europe, President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins said Tuesday after meeting with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.
"I am grateful for a warm welcome and I would like to stress how much I value our meeting and discussions not only about the past, but also about future problems and cooperation potential," Higgins was quoted as saying by local media.
The two presidents reviewed collaborative work in the European Union (EU). According to Grybauskaite, Lithuania and Ireland stand in the same line on migration, economic, security, and Brexit-related challenges facing the EU, and work together to resolve them.
In Brexit negotiations, Lithuania and Ireland stand for closer ties between the EU and the United Kingdom, Lithuania's presidency said in a statement.
"Lithuania supports Ireland's determination not to create new borders in Europe," Grybauskaite was quoted as saying in the statement.
The two countries are also linked by a large Lithuanian community in Ireland, its third largest ethnic group. "Lithuanian community's contribution in Ireland is very positive as regards economy and culture," Higgins said.
According to official statistics, around 40 thousand Lithuanian emigrants currently reside in Ireland. As of last year, the Lithuanian language has been included into the Irish school program as an optional second language.
"Ireland is similar to Lithuania in size, interests and values. We see Ireland as a model example of responsible policies, successful economic development and ability to bring its emigrants back home," Grybauskaite said.
In her words, Ireland, a country that has suffered a major wave of emigration, is now returning its compatriots from abroad and serves as an example to Lithuania as the Baltic country is also calling on its emigrants to come home.
Three agreements on cooperation in science and educations are to be signed during the visit. According to the two leaders, there is also much potential for economic cooperation, especially in IT, FinTech and life sciences.
