On February 13, 2017, H. E. Mr. Wei Ruixing, Chinese Ambassador to Lithuania, met with Mr. Mindaugas Sinkevičius, newly appointed Minister of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania. Mr. Mindaugas Janulionis, Advisor to the Minister, Mrs. Gina Jaugielavičienė, Director of Investment and Export Department of the Ministry, and Mrs. Zhao Qiuyan, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Embassy, were present at the meeting.

Ambassador Wei extended his sincere congratulations to Mr. Sinkevičius on his appointment as Minister of Economy and wished him every success during his tenure of office. "The past quarter of century since the establishment of China-Lithuania diplomatic relations has witnessed continuous development of the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, especially in trade and economic cooperation", the Ambassador said. The total volume of trade between China and Lithuania in 2016 was about 1.5 billion US dollars, up by 8.3% over the previous year, with an increase of 17% of Lithuania's exports to China. The Ambassador expressed his expectation that the export of Lithuanian agricultural products to China would help improve the trade balance between the two countries. "Although the two-way investment is not in large scale, yet it has been developing relatively fast and expanding in new areas. There is a great potential and bright prospect to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries", Ambassador Wei said, and assured the Minister that the Chinese Embassy in Vilnius would work together with the Ministry of Economy, as well as Enterprise Lithuania, Investment Lithuania and State Department of Tourism, to make new and greater progress in pragmatic cooperation.

Minister Sinkevičius expressed thanks to Ambassador Wei for his congratulations, and briefed him some key points of the program of the new Government in the economic and social development, such as attracting foreign investment, expanding exports, motivating innovation and developing tourism. "The Lithuanian Government attaches great importance to mutually beneficial cooperation between Lithuania and China", the Minister said, underscoring that China is an important partner for Lithuania in some major areas of the Government Program. Minister Sinkevičius assured the Ambassador that, on the basis of existing friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, the Ministry of Economy would facilitate Chinese enterprises in their investment and business operation in Lithuania, and work together with the Chinese Embassy as well as the relevant Chinese Government departments to further strengthen pragmatic cooperation for the benefits of the two countries and peoples.

The Ambassador and the Minister also shared information of and exchanged views on some important upcoming events, such as "The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation" in May in Beijing, "The 22nd UN World Tourism Organization General Assembly" in September in Chengdu, China, and "Adventure 2018" Tourism Exhibition in early 2018 in Vilnius.