Romania wants to " further develop, all relations with China, diversifying and expanding economic cooperation ties between people," President Klaus Iohannis said, in the speech at the annual meeting with heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Romania, CRI reports.
According to him the relationship with China must be addressed "in a comprehensive, realistic and long-term way, responsive to our mutual interests. We believe that in this way we will contribute to the achievement of the Agenda 2020 EU - China strategic cooperation ".
Romania wants to facilitate trade flows in and out of Europe, by creating a freight corridor between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, linking Central Asia to Europe and further eastwards to China.
"We have a particular interest in developing relations with Central Asian states, intending to strengthen political dialogue and to enhance the energy and economic cooperation. Central Asia can play a key role in the diversification of oil supply to Europe. We also want to facilitate trade flows to and from Europe, by creating a freight corridor between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, linking Central Asia to Europe and further eastwards to China. The Constanta harbor and the Danube corridor are very important strength points that Romania will use in this process ", Klaus Iohannis said.
The speech of president Iohannis shows a shift in views regarding relations with China, to which he had a slightly different position in the campaign, at least in terms of political relations.
"Up to a special political relationship there is a long way. My criticism was against the policy of China - human rights violations, criticism exists, everyone knows, slow down with that," Klaus Johannis said last year in November, according to several publications.
Afterwards, the one who would win the presidential election came with clarifications of its position, stressing that Romania should focus primarily on economic relations, relations with the Chinese state.