Vietnam - Romania’s important partner

So said Emil Ghitulescu, the charge d’affaires of the Romanian Embassy in Vietnam on The gioi & Vietnam (The World and Vietnam) newspaper ahead of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Romania from April 14^th-16^th.

Reporter: Could you please share the priorities of the Romania – Vietnam relationship?

Mr. Emil Ghitulescu: The visit by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Romania is the first of a Vietnamese Government leader to Romania since the Romanian Revolution in 1989.

Vietnam is an important and traditional partner of Romania in Southeast Asia. The Vietnam – Romania relationship is looking towards the following targets: an increase in bilateral trade cooperation; the promotion of the signing of the Vietnam – EU free trade agreement (EVFTA); an increase in procedures of exports of Romania’s animal goods into the Vietnamese market; and the development of relationships between cities and localities.

Reporter: What are some outstanding cooperative projects between the countries, in your opinion?

Mr. Emil Ghitulescu: Vietnam – Romania trade turnover reaches over USD200 million per year, with over USD300 million in 2016. Romania’s exports to Vietnam are mainly products made from plants, cereal, fertilizer, pharmaceutical products, textile and garment, machines, electronic equipment and devices, food, and animal meat products. Meanwhile, Romania imports mainly machines, electronic equipment and devices, metal, textile and garment, footwear, coffee, tea and species from Vietnam.

We hope to cooperate with Vietnam in specific energy products based on the memorandum of understanding between SNTGN Transgaz and PetroVietnam signed in 2016 during Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos’ visit to Hanoi.

Romania’s Tulcea County and Vietnam’s Ben Tre province are developing initiatives in accordance with Danube-Mekong cooperation, in a project to create a pilot biodiversity conservation area for sustainable ecotourism. The two sides are also establishing an information center for tourism development in the Mekong River Delta. Additionally, there are diverse projects between Romania and Vietnam in culture, education, science and technology.

Both Romania and Vietnam are candidates for non-permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council term 2020-2021. The two countries also support each other at international organizations and forums.

Reporter: How are your feelings on working in Vietnam?

Mr. Emil Ghitulescu: Wonderful! Vietnam is like home to me. Romania has trained nearly 4,000 Vietnamese university graduates and post-graduates who have made remarkable contributions to Vietnam’s development and are links between the two countries.

Personally, I love Hanoi and Ha Long cities. I have come here with my wife for several weeks after the working term in Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Sudan and Venezuela. We start learning the Vietnamese language as we love Vietnamese, who are generous and friendly.

We wish Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc a successful visit to Romania.

Reporter: Thank you very much!