SHANGHAI -- President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, who attended the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

Xi said China attaches great importance to bilateral ties with Lithuania, an important Baltic Sea nation and also China's important partner in central and eastern Europe. The two countries should uphold and deepen mutual trust and respect and take care of each other's core interests and major concerns.

China is willing to synergize development strategy with Lithuania, advance cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative, expand two-way investment and enhance cooperation in e-commerce, financial technology, new energy, lasers and agriculture. China hopes Lithuania uses the CIIE to introduce its products, Xi said.

The two countries should expand people-to-people exchange, advance private exchange, enhance cooperation at the local level, safeguard multilateralism and build an open world economy and a community with a shared future for humanity, he said.

Grybauskaite said Lithuania admires China's leapfrog development and speaks highly of the CIIE, which is a strategic move under the current circumstances. Lithuania believes China's door will not close, creating a great opportunity for all nations.

China plays a more and more important role in global affairs, she noted, adding that Lithuania hopes to enhance comprehensive cooperation with China and promote multilateralism and free trade.