OREANDA-NEWS. The primary focus of today’s bilateral meeting of the Estonian and Lithuanian heads of government was on economic cooperation, the strengthening of which is, according to Prime Minister Ratas, a key to the recovery of the economies of both countries.

"Lithuania is already the number one destination for investments from Estonia; the Lithuanian commercial register contains approximately 450 companies related to Estonian businesses; the commercial exchanges between the two countries increased by 7% in 2015. These facts speak for themselves – there is already a close economic relationship between our countries," said Prime Minister Jüri Ratas after meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis. "However, there is still a great deal of potential to strengthen our cooperation; particularly given that tomorrow, the prime ministers of the Baltic countries will sign the Rail Baltic Agreement to boost the project, which will not only connect the Baltic countries but Europe as a whole at a completely new level."

The prime ministers also discussed how to strengthen security in the region and touched upon the issues of energy and transport connections. Prime ministers Ratas and Skvernelis also discussed cooperation in the field of taxation.

Following the meeting, Prime Ministers Ratas and Skvernelis opened an exhibition "Together towards independence" at the National Library of Estonia. The exhibition is based on archive documents and illustrates the restoration of relations between Estonia and Lithuania after the two countries regained their independence.