Chinese vice premier's visit to boost ties with Romania

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BUCHAREST -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli's upcoming visit to Romania will lift the two countries' comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership to a higher level, Chinese Ambassador to Romania Huo Yuzhen has said.

The visit, another important high-level contact following Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit last year, will further deepen mutual political trust, enhance pragmatic cooperation, and consolidate the traditional friendliness between the two countries, Huo told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"This year is the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Romania diplomatic relations, as well as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a partnership of comprehensive friendly cooperation," she said.

"For a long time, the two countries have continuously strengthened mutual political trust and deepened cooperation in such areas as economy, culture, education, and science and technology," she added.

The ambassador said the two countries have shared a profound traditional friendship since Romania opened a new chapter for friendly cooperation 65 years ago, when it was among the first countries to recognize and establish diplomatic ties with new China.

The two peoples always stood together at the critical moment when China resumed its legitimate seat in the United Nations and in the face of major natural disasters, Huo said.

Their friendship will remain forever engraved on the memories of the two peoples, the ambassador said, adding that China-Romania relations are truly reflected by the proverb -- "a friend in need is a friend indeed."

Huo said the two countries have witnessed accelerated development in bilateral relations since the beginning of the new century, with close high-level contacts not only strengthening political mutual trust, but also effectively pushing forward pragmatic cooperation.

On trade and economic relations, she said China is the largest trade partner of Romania in Asia, noting that the two countries' cooperation culminated in the wake of Premier Li's visit.

The visit further unleashed the potential for the two countries' exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at different levels, she said. Bilateral trade and economic relations have presented a picture of rapid and in-depth development.

Two-way trade surpassed 4 billion U.S. dollars in 2013 and rose by nearly 30 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2014, said the ambassador.

China and Romania have a strong desire for cooperation and their cooperation projects are advancing steadily in such areas as infrastructure, energy and agriculture, she said.

As a vital country in the Central and Eastern European region, Romania has attached great importance and taken an active part in cooperation between the region and China, said Huo.

Cooperation between China and the region constantly progressed in trade, finance, science and technology innovation and people-to-people as well as local exchanges, she said.

October will see the ninth China-Central and Eastern Europe agricultural trade cooperative forum in Romania, which would make Romania the first among its neighboring countries in hosting such an event, said Huo.

She expressed hopes for continued active role of the country in deepening the region's cooperation with China and enhancing China-Europe links.

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Chinese-Romanian diplomatic ties, a rich array of cultural exchanges took place between the two sides since the beginning of the year. The National Theater Company of China toured Romania and Romania's Madrigal Choir staged shows in China. A Chinese movie festival was also held in Romania.

In the meanwhile, efforts are underway to set up a cultural center in each other, Huo said.

According to Huo, youth, eduction and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation had enriched their bilateral ties and consolidated the foundation of the friendliness between their two peoples.

She was deeply touched by the Romanian people's fondness of China and its culture when recalling her three-year experience in Romania.

"More and more Romanian youngsters hope to learn the Chinese language and culture," she said.