Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) A legislative friendship group that seeks to build closer ties between Taiwanese legislators and lawmakers in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, was established in Taipei on Wednesday.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chiu Chih-wei , who heads the friendship group, said at a ceremony to announce its establishment that the group has been formed to help enhance Taiwanese lawmakers' interactions and exchanges with their counterparts in the three countries on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.

Legislative diplomacy can play a flexible and complementary role to official diplomatic channels in promoting exchanges with these countries, according to Chiu.

He expressed the hope that one day Legislative Speaker You Si-kun will be able to lead a legislative delegation to the Baltic states and address their parliaments.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Minister Harry Tseng , who attended Wednesday's ceremony, thanked the Legislative Yuan for assisting the foreign ministry in deepening Taiwan's relations with other countries through legislative diplomacy.

Tseng stressed the need for Taiwan to continue to develop closer relations with the three countries in terms of culture, education, technology, economics, trade and tourism.