Sarunas Birutis, the Lithuanian Culture Minister thinks Lithuania needs more ambitious cultural collaborations with China. Photo: Courtesy of Sarunas Birutis

Lithuania, a small but sophisticated Baltic country, is proud of its diversified culture and rich history. As the bilateral relations between Lithuania and China develops, the need for cultural interaction between the two countries has increased. In April, an official delegation headed by the Lithuanian Culture Minister Sarunas Birutis visited Beijing. The Global Times (GT) had an interview with the minister, during which he shared his opinion on Lithuanian culture and future cooperation between Lithuania and China.

GT: Will there be any new collaborative cultural projects signed?

Birutis: We signed a cultural cooperation agreement that lasted from 2011 to 2016 and will sign a new one later this year. The new agreement will be from 2017 to 2021. The content comprises an agreement to cooperate on different issues of culture, including visual arts, performing arts, and children's literature.

Our cultural cooperation is growing very fast. This year, we have 17 different performances in China. Also, two orchestras from Lithuania are coming for concerts, and there is a lot more going on. It shows that our cooperation is very productive.

GT: What are the challenges in bilateral cooperation between China and Lithuania from a cultural perspective?

Birutis: We have to encourage more active exchange in art, photography, theater, dance, design, architecture, and film. I think we are ready for bigger and more ambitious projects, such as cooperation between our national theaters.

GT: When talking about Lithuania, what do you want Chinese people to know and vice versa?

Birutis: Lithuania is a small but smart country beside the Baltic Sea. We are a state with thousands of years of history. Our history is rich the same as our culture. Being on the cultural crossroad, we have adopted a multilingual, multinational culture and formed a very unique identity. We are open, tolerant, and creative.

On the other hand, China has a very rich history and civilization and cultural treasures. We would like Lithuanians to know China's history, its modern society, and its goals. We have a lot to learn from each other.