HELSINKI, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- President Tarja Halonen met Wednesday with her Lithuanian counterpart to discuss opportunities for cooperation on a number of projects, especially those involving alternative energies.

    Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said Finland is a very important partner for Lithuania in strengthening cooperation with Nordic countries.

    Grybauskaite said Finnish experience in the fields of energy and innovation is very useful to her country.

    The two presidents also discussed the planned Nord Stream gas pipeline, underlying the need to make a thorough examination and assessment of the environmental impact of the offshore proposal.

    On other topics, Grybauskaite said the sale of 1.5-billion-U.S.-dollars worth of Lithuanian securities has created opportunities for Lithuania to overcome the economic downturn without seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund.