VP Naidu holds talks with Lithuanian President; discusses bilateral ties, regional issues

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday held talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and discussed important aspects of bilateral relationship as well as global and regional issues of common interest.

Naidu, who arrived here on Saturday, also briefed the Lithuanian President on the recent decision of the Indian Government to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution that conferred special status upon Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the decision was taken to ensure all-round development and extend benefits to the people of the newly-created Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, according to an official statement.

The Vice President is on a five-day trip to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the first ever high-level visit from India to the three Baltic countries.

During his talks with Nauseda, the Vice President asserted that the re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir was aimed at "reducing regional disparity and improving administrative efficiency."