<p>Lithuania said on Saturday it was quitting China's 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states that includes other EU members, calling it "divisive".</p>.<p>A member of the group since 2012, the Baltic country urged fellow EU members to also leave amid deteriorating ties between the 27-member bloc and China.</p>.<p>"Lithuania no longer considers itself a 17+1 format member and does not participate in this initiative," Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told AFP.</p>.<p>The minister called the cooperation platform "divisive" from the EU's perspective and urged EU members to pursue "a much more effective 27+1 approach and communication with China."</p>.<p>"Europe's strength and impact is in its unity," Landsbergis said.</p>.<p>Lithuania's move is the latest indication of the deteriorating relationship between China and the European Union.</p>.<p>The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to refuse any consideration of the EU-China investment deal as long as Chinese sanctions against MEPs and scholars were in place.</p>.<p>In recent months, Lithuania also took several steps that angered Beijing, including the blocking of Chinese investment and announcing it would open a trade office in Taiwan, which China considers a rebel province that will one day return to the mainland's fold.</p>.<p>Lithuania's parliament on Thursday passed a resolution condemning China's treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority as "crimes against humanity" and "genocide".</p>.<p>It also called for a UN investigation of Beijing's internment camps for Uyghurs and asked the European Commission to review relations with Beijing.</p>
<p>Lithuania said on Saturday it was quitting China's 17+1 cooperation forum with central and eastern European states that includes other EU members, calling it "divisive".</p>.<p>A member of the group since 2012, the Baltic country urged fellow EU members to also leave amid deteriorating ties between the 27-member bloc and China.</p>.<p>"Lithuania no longer considers itself a 17+1 format member and does not participate in this initiative," Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told AFP.</p>.<p>The minister called the cooperation platform "divisive" from the EU's perspective and urged EU members to pursue "a much more effective 27+1 approach and communication with China."</p>.<p>"Europe's strength and impact is in its unity," Landsbergis said.</p>.<p>Lithuania's move is the latest indication of the deteriorating relationship between China and the European Union.</p>.<p>The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to refuse any consideration of the EU-China investment deal as long as Chinese sanctions against MEPs and scholars were in place.</p>.<p>In recent months, Lithuania also took several steps that angered Beijing, including the blocking of Chinese investment and announcing it would open a trade office in Taiwan, which China considers a rebel province that will one day return to the mainland's fold.</p>.<p>Lithuania's parliament on Thursday passed a resolution condemning China's treatment of its Muslim Uyghur minority as "crimes against humanity" and "genocide".</p>.<p>It also called for a UN investigation of Beijing's internment camps for Uyghurs and asked the European Commission to review relations with Beijing.</p>