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On May 16-18, Maltese Foreign Minister Joe Borg paid an official visit to Lithuania. On May 17, the Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Deputy Chairman of the Seimas Gintaras Steponavičius and the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, received Minister Borg. The ministers of foreign affairs of both countries have signed a bilateral agreement of avoiding double taxation. In a press conference after the signing of the agreement, Minister Valionis said that Lithuanian and Maltese officials had discussed bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on both countries' EU integration experience and problems. It was noted during the meetings that many opportunities existed for developing bilateral cooperation in law, economy and especially in tourism areas. Both Lithuania and Malta started EU membership negotiations in February 2000 and have already concluded negotiations of 13 chapters out of 31. Lithuanian and Maltese foreign ministers paid much attention to the issues of enlargement and future of the EU. Minister Borg underscored in the press conference that the common strategic goal, EU accession, is uniting both countries, and expressed a hope that both of them would be admitted during the first EU enlargement wave. Maltese Foreign Minister named financial services and tourism among the most promising areas for Lithuanian-Maltese economic cooperation.