President of Latvia Egils Levits continued his official visit in Sweden today with a meeting with country’s prime minister, Stefan Löfven, in Stockholm.
Both sides expressed their joy about excellent bilateral relations as both countries celebrate the special milestone of 100 years since Latvia’s de iure recognition by Sweden and 30 years since re-establishment of diplomatic relations.
‘Sweden is our biggest investor and trade partner. We expect it to remain our main economic partner in future as well,’ Egils Levits stressed. He also said it is important to continue wider political, economic, cultural and other cooperation on the Nordic-Baltic and European Union level.
Sides discussed the implementation of the ‘Rail Baltica’ railway infrastructure project. President of Latvia invited Swedish companies to consider investing in Rail Baltica infrastructure, and Swedish Prime Minister confirmed the interest of his country’s business community about the project. As regards to other European infrastructure projects, sides discussed the opportunities presented by the Three Seas Initiative.
Egils Levits and Stefan Löfven underlined the importance of Nordic-Baltic science, research and technology cooperation in enhancing development and competitiveness of the region and the whole European Union (EU). Both officials expressed their delight at memorandums of cooperation signed during the official visit by University of Latvia, Uppsala University and Karolinska Institute.
Meeting also focused on European Union Eastern Partnership initiative, its current priorities and support for European integration of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. On the current situation in Belarus, Egils Levits and Stefan Löfven both confirmed their country’s support for further tightening of EU’s restrictive measures against Belarus in support of democratic aspirations of Belarusian people.
President of Latvia and Prime Minister of Sweden discussed closer relations between NATO and Sweden in scope of NATO’s partnership policy, especially since both countries have shared understanding of regional security guarantees.
Both sides praised transatlantic ties. Together with NATO partnerships, they contribute to unity of democratic states and common security efforts.