About the visit of the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, to Finland on September 1–2, 2025
The visit began in Tampere, where the Presidents of Lithuania and Finland, accompanied by their spouses, attended a men's basketball match at the European Championship. Lithuania emerged victorious with a close score of 81–78.
President Gitanas Nausėda's Programme:
In Helsinki, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.
He honored the memory of Marshal Carl Gustaf Mannerheim, a key figure in Finland’s statehood and military leadership, by laying a wreath at his grave in Hietaniemi Cemetery. He also visited the grave of Professor August Robert Niemi (Finnish: Aukusti Robert Niemi), a friend of Lithuania and collector of Lithuanian folk songs.
Together with Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen, the President opened the Lithuania–Finland Defence and High-Tech Industry and Business Forum, aimed at strengthening bilateral co-operation. During the Forum, important co-operation declarations were signed between Lithuanian and Finnish defense industry companies, including in the field of quantum technologies.
President Nausėda and First Lady Diana Nausėdienė visited the Finnish Literature Society, where they were presented with a previously unpublished collection of audio recordings of Lithuanian folk songs and multipart harmonies gathered by Professor Niemi in 1911–1912. A unique cultural artifact was handed over to Lithuania: the traditional Lithuanian string instrument kanklės that Niemi had brought from Lithuania to Finland.
First Lady Diana Nausėdienė's Programme:
In Helsinki, Diana Nausėdienė met with Suzanne Innes-Stubb, spouse of the Finnish President. Together, they visited the Oodi Library, discussing the role of libraries in promoting literacy, social inclusion, lifelong learning, and community building.
She also visited Helsinki University Hospital, where she toured one of the world’s most advanced RAPTOR operating rooms and the neonatal intensive care unit. She learned about Finland’s crisis response readiness and the Virtual Hospital for Ukraine initiative.
Additionally, Diana Nausėdienė visited Ruusutorppa School in Espoo, where municipal programs offer native language classes—including Lithuanian. She engaged with students, explored the Finnish education system’s features, challenges, and solutions, and toured the learning spaces and shelter facilities.
The visit reaffirmed the strong friendship and co-operation between Lithuania and Finland across various fields—from culture to defense and education.
Photo credits: Robertas Dačkus and Eitvydas Kinaitis
