Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidentas

07/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/16/2026 06:42

The President: Growing Lithuanian–Latvian academic cooperation is shaping the future of the Baltic Region

On Thursday in Klaipėda, President Gitanas Nausėda, together with First Lady Diana Nausėdienė, attended the ceremonial conferment of an Honorary Doctorate by Klaipėda University upon the President of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs.

In his congratulatory address, President Nausėda emphasized that this distinguished honor reflects not only President Rinkēvičs' personal achievements but also the close academic, cultural, and intellectual ties between Lithuania and Latvia. "Our universities build trust between our societies, educate future leaders, and contribute to strengthening the resilience of our democracies. Today, academic cooperation is no less important than cooperation in the fields of defense or energy," he said.

The President stressed that research, higher education, and innovation should become one of the strategic pillars of the Lithuanian-Latvian partnership. By pooling their scientific potential, the two countries can strengthen their international competitiveness, make more effective use of European Union funding opportunities, and jointly create greater added value for the Baltic region, he said.

The President also noted that, in the current security environment, academic cooperation can make an even greater contribution to strengthening national resilience. He underscored the need to promote joint research in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, defense technologies, critical infrastructure protection, and energy security.

The Lithuanian President also highlighted the importance of Baltic studies, emphasizing that investments in research on the Baltic languages, culture, and historical heritage are investments in the shared identity and historical memory of Lithuania and Latvia. He noted that the awarding, this July, of the first joint double Master's degree in Baltic Linguistics by Vilnius University and the University of Latvia is an excellent example of successful academic cooperation.

Gitanas Nausėda also thanked the President of Latvia for his country's long-standing support for the Lithuanian Secondary School in Riga, which stands as an important symbol of the friendship between the two nations and their shared commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

Congratulating President Rinkēvičs, the Lithuanian leader emphasized that Klaipėda University's decision to confer an Honorary Doctorate upon the Latvian President is also the highest recognition of the friendship, shared values, and close cooperation between Lithuania and Latvia.
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