China’s Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Han Chunlin , is the special guest of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum , which will be held this year in Vatra Dornei by the Centre for Analysis and Regional Development Planning (C.A.P.D.R.) and Suceava County Council. In this context, the economic magazine Moldova Invest has dedicated its spring edition to promoting the investment potential of the Wider Moldova Region ahead of this particularly important event for the regional economy of Moldova as a whole, which is interconnected with Romania’s economic partners. The designation of the Chinese delegation as a “special guest” at the Moldova Regional Economic Forum is based on solid economic arguments. On 5 October 1949, Romania was the third country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

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Bilateral relations between Romania and the People’s Republic of China have a long history, reflecting a 75-year commitment to cooperation and profound mutual understanding

Since 5 October 1949, when Romania became the third country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with China, the two countries have strengthened their ties across a wide range of fields, including the economy, trade, culture, technology and education.

On 7 September 2022, China’s Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Han Chunlin, presented his credentials.

In this interview, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Romania emphasised the importance of continuing and intensifying exchanges between the cities and provinces of the two countries, highlighting their shared commitment to promoting dialogue and cross-border cooperation. He also underlined the strong relations between the People’s Republic of China and Romania, focusing on economic development and bilateral cooperation over the years.

Thus, despite international changes and instability, ties between China and Romania have always been characterised by friendship, sincerity and mutual respect. Today, the two countries are committed to strengthening and expanding their cooperation in both the economic and cultural spheres, a topic explored in depth in this interview.

China’s Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Han Chunlin: “China pays close attention to the Romanian market, and Chinese companies continue to come to Romania”

On 5 October 1949, Romania became the third country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. In the current context, how do you assess the scale of economic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Romania?

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Through the unremitting efforts of the Chinese people over the past 75 years, China has achieved a development miracle in human history. The Chinese economy has reached historic heights and is generally ranked as the world’s second-largest economy, the largest in terms of manufacturing industry, the largest in goods trade and the second-largest consumer market.

China has built the world’s largest railway and expressway networks and achieved remarkable progress in areas such as airports and seaports, irrigation, the energy industry, information technology and many others.

Moldova Regional Economic Forum 2024 – Vatra Dornei, 4–6 July

China’s emerging strategic industries are expanding continuously, making the country one of the world’s innovators

Romania was the third country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 75 years, relations between the two countries have been based on strong cooperation, ongoing mutual understanding, mutual respect, mutual assistance and a shared desire to achieve common goals. Since the beginning of the 21st century, bilateral relations have reached a new level.

“In 2023, trade volume between the two countries reached a new record of USD 10.56 billion”

In 2004, China and Romania established a comprehensive partnership of close cooperation. In the fields of trade and business, the two countries signed an economic cooperation agreement and an agreement to promote and protect Chinese and Romanian investments. They established the Intergovernmental Economic Committee, set up working groups dedicated to infrastructure and free trade, created the Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, and developed other cooperation and communication mechanisms.

In recent years, economic and trade relations between China and Romania have continued to develop steadily, with the two countries actively pursuing practical cooperation.

In 2023, trade volume between the two countries reached a new record of USD 10.56 billion, exceeding USD 10 billion for the third consecutive year and maintaining steady development as the two countries actively pursued practical cooperation.

In 2023, trade volume between the two countries reached a new record of USD 10.56 billion, exceeding USD 10 billion for the third consecutive year and maintaining steady growth. This represented more than a tenfold increase compared with 20 years earlier, when trade volume was less than USD 1 billion.

China Tobacco International (Europe) Company has consistently paid more than EUR 100 million in taxes every year

China remains Romania’s largest trading partner outside Europe and its largest trading partner in Asia. At the same time, increasing quantities of high-quality Romanian products, including cosmetics, mineral water, wine and other local products, have entered the Chinese market and gained popularity among Chinese consumers.

According to Romanian statistics, in terms of investment, the total number of Chinese companies registered in Romania is close to 14,000.

Chinese companies invest in a wide range of sectors in Romania, including trade and services, industrial manufacturing and agriculture, as well as emerging industries such as green energy, information and communications, and smart cities. Over the years, Chinese companies have operated in Romania in compliance with the law, conscientiously fulfilled their social responsibilities and actively contributed to Romania’s economic and social development.

Huawei has been established here for 20 years and has made significant contributions to the development of telecommunications technology

Today, Huawei has more than 1,300 local employees, indirectly supporting more than 6,000 jobs, and has been recognised as a Top Employer on several occasions. Ningbo Junsheng Electronic and Ningbo Huaxiang Electronic are two Chinese automotive parts companies with factories in the city of Brașov that have helped create local employment for more than 4,000 people.

China Tobacco International (Europe) Company has consistently paid more than EUR 100 million in taxes every year, making a significant contribution to local public finances. China is currently paying close attention to the Romanian market, and Chinese companies continue to come to Romania in search of new opportunities for cooperation.

From an economic perspective, we have identified several successful examples in Eastern Europe of Chinese companies engaging in foreign investment.

Huawei has been operating in Serbia for 15 years and is one of the Republic of Serbia’s main partners in building its 5G network. In 2016, Huawei signed an agreement worth USD 174 million (EUR 150 million) to modernise the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

Another example is the Chinese company Zijin Mining Group, one of the world’s largest copper ore producers.

In response to strong demand for this metal, which is considered vital to the global energy transition, the company invested USD 3.8 billion (EUR 3.5 billion) in developing a copper and gold mine in eastern Serbia.

In light of these examples and the fact that your country is Romania’s second most important trading partner, with total trade worth EUR 9 billion in 2022, how do you assess the future prospects for trade and economic relations between our countries?

The favourable economic relationship between China and Romania over the past 75 years has laid the foundations for a promising future.

China is currently continuing to deepen its reforms and is determined to remain open to the world, not only for its own development but also to benefit the world as a whole. China is now an important trading partner for more than 140 countries and regions and a major source of investment for an increasing number of countries.

In recent years, China’s contribution to global economic growth has remained at around 30%.

In 2023, the Chinese economy grew again, with GDP increasing by 5.2%, exceeding the expected target. As the world’s second-largest economy, China has a vast market, a considerable workforce and human resources, a complete industrial system, and rapidly growing new drivers of economic growth.

The overall strength and advantages of the Chinese economy are evident, and its foundations are solid. Therefore, the overall trend of long-term improvement will not change.

As China and Romania mark 75 years of diplomatic relations, China’s comprehensive, high-quality modernisation will undoubtedly provide sustained momentum for the development of Romania and other countries around the world. As a large country in Eastern Europe, with a sizeable population and economy, Romania enjoys clear geographical advantages. In recent years, its economic growth rate has ranked among the highest in EU Member States, while its green and digital transitions are progressing favourably.

Romania continues to demonstrate its economic potential in Europe. China is willing to work with Romania to advance the major “Belt and Road” Initiative and build a more dynamic economic and trade relationship through platforms such as China–Central and Eastern European Countries (China–CEEC) cooperation.

Practical cooperation between the two countries has broad scope and promising prospects. We should consistently take a strategic, long-term view, continually strengthen the foundations of our relationship, seek common ground, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, support inclusive and mutually beneficial economic globalisation, and better align our development strategies in infrastructure and the green and digital transitions. We should continue to achieve new results through cooperation. Let us strengthen our cooperative ties, create new opportunities and resources, better promote the development of both countries, and bring greater benefits to both peoples.

“The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Romania will continue to actively promote exchanges between the counties and cities of the two countries and serve as a ‘bridge’ for further exchanges”

Have you initiated cooperation with Romanian cities? Are there bilateral cooperation relations between Chinese cities and/or professional associations and their Romanian counterparts?

Over the years, various forms of exchange have taken place between provinces (counties) and cities in the two countries, covering a wide range of areas, including the economy and trade, investment, culture, science and technology, education, and sport. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, local governments in the two countries joined forces in the fight against it, demonstrating the deep friendship between the two peoples.

Since being appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Romania, I have visited many Romanian cities and experienced the enthusiasm of local people for strengthening cooperation between our two countries.

With the resumption of face-to-face communication, we encourage both sides to intensify reciprocal visits and expand dialogue and exchanges across various fields. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Romania will continue to actively promote exchanges between provinces (counties) and cities in the two countries and serve as a “bridge” for further exchanges between them.

In the summer of 2024, the Centre for Analysis and Regional Development Planning, together with Suceava County Council and the North-East Regional Development Agency, will organise the second edition of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum – 2024. The meeting will focus on regions in South-Eastern Europe. Ambassadors of partner countries with which Romania has strengthened economic relations outside the EU will also be invited. To what extent is your country interested in developing specific relations with regions in South-Eastern European countries and, consequently, in participating in the 2024 Moldova Regional Economic Forum (FERM 2024)?

China is committed to strengthening economic and trade exchanges and deepening cultural and people-to-people communication with European countries, including those in South-Eastern Europe, in order to consolidate friendly relations.

Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (China–CEEC cooperation) is a transregional cooperation platform jointly established by China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, based on traditional friendship and all participants’ shared commitment to cooperation and mutually beneficial development. It has achieved significant results.

China invites the countries of South-Eastern Europe to participate actively in this cooperation platform and to organise more economic and cultural activities in order to promote practical outcomes that benefit both peoples.