国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier visits Lithuania on development of cooperation

VILNIUS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli arrived here Saturday for a visit intended to promote development of cooperation between China and Lithuania, including Lithuania's possible participation in China's Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.

During the visit, Zhang will meet with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and hold talks with Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius to extensively exchange views on issues of common concern and explore new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation, according to Chinese Ambassador to Lithuania Wei Ruixing.

Lithuania has remained the top trade partner to China in the Baltic Sea region over the past few years. According to Chinese official statistics, the bilateral trade volume topped 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2014.

The government of Lithuania has attached great importance to strengthening logistic and transport cooperation between Europe and Asia. It shows an active attitude toward participation in the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt proposed by China.

During his Lithuania visit, Zhang is expected to discuss opportunities for the two sides to jointly carry out projects within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative.

The Belt is an overland network bringing together China, central Asia, Russia and Europe, linking China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea, and connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean.