Diana Nausėdienė met with Finland’s First Lady in Helsinki

First Lady Diana Nausėdienė met with Finland's First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb in Helsinki on Tuesday.

The two first ladies visited Oodi Library and discussed cultural ties and interinstitutional cooperation between Lithuania and Finland.

"From a linguistic point of view, Lithuanians and Finns are very different, but our countries are linked by many meaningful historical and cultural parallels, close diplomatic ties and geopolitical interests, as well as economic, academic and cultural cooperation. The historical perspective highlights important phenomena that testify to the similarities between Lithuanian and Finnish folklore, especially folk songs, which have been intensively studied by Finnish and Lithuanian scholars," said Mrs. Nausėdienė.

According to the First Lady, Lithuanians know Finland as a progressive country that empowers diverse communities. The Finnish cultural and library sector is no exception, and Lithuanian institutions see it as an example to follow.

"Helsinki Central Library Oodi is one of the leaders in this field, and our country's librarians have maintained close ties with their Finnish colleagues for many years. Last year alone, top executives and specialists of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, as well as libraries from Kaunas, Panevėžys and elsewhere, visited and gained experience here. I have no doubt that this cooperation will expand and grow stronger. We are grateful to Finland for its openness to our institutions and for the sharing its inspiring experiences with us," said Mrs. Nausėdienė.

The First Lady, the patron of early reading in Lithuania, was delighted that the Book Start program, which provides books to newborns, has been operating in Finland since 2019. According to Mrs. Nausėdienė, it is very important to create opportunities for parents to spend as much quality time as possible with their children, and reading together is one of the most meaningful activities in the early stages of child development.

The first ladies of Lithuania and Finland also discussed the upcoming Fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv, organized by the spouse of the President of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, which both ladies plan to attend.

The First Lady invited Mrs. Innes-Stubb to participate in the international summit "Growing Europe 2025: Shaping Europe's Demographic Future by Investing in Families and Every New Life" to be held at the Presidential Palace in November.

"Our goal is to bring together European first ladies and gentlemen, politicians and decision-makers, representatives of international organizations, NGO leaders, health and social policy experts, local and national government officials, civil society representatives, and philanthropists. We will share best practices in the fields of motherhood and newborn care and seek to strengthen a united Europe, where every country benefits from shared knowledge, collective wisdom, and a commitment to protecting life from its very first moments," emphasized Diana Nausėdienė.