"These are the first steps for Panevėžys in developing contacts and implementing mutually beneficial culture, sports, science, business and other projects",- said the Mayor R. Račkauskas.

Panevėžys has been proposed for partner cities exchange in the Land of Rising Sun by H. E. Mr. Egidijus Meilūnas, the Ambassador of Lithuania in Japan.

For Mr. K. Tamaki it is not the first visit to Panevėžys. The contacts have been started with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts of Panevėžys. This time the guest visited the Company "EcoLinum", the Art Gallery, the Centre of Robotics at Panevėžys Institute of Kaunas Technological University. Mr. K. Tamaki was very much interested in the novalties of robotics and technologies and sees the cooperation potential in this area.

The visit of Japanese delegation to Panevėžys is planned in September. The Mayor R. Račkauskas has handed over the invitation to the Mayor of Hiratsuka City to visit Panevėžys.