VILNIUS -- Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius and visiting Chinese State Councilor Yang Jing on Thursday agreed to deepen their cooperation under various mechanisms.

Butkevicius stressed Lithuania adhered to the One-China Policy and respected China's core interests and major concerns.

He expressed Lithuania's hope to be the gateway for Chinese enterprises and investments to enter Europe and make new contributions to the development of the "16+1" cooperation and China-Europe relations.

Yang said the two countries had been in close contact since last year and had progressed in their cooperation in various fields.

He pointed out the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year should serve as an opportunity to promote China's "Belt and Road" initiative to match Lithuania's strategy of development, thus further expanding ties in the fields of trade and transportation, among others.

He stressed the two sides should make full use of the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) cooperation framework, and promote the continuous rapid development of bilateral relations and the "16+1" cooperation.