Chinese authorities willing to implement new investment projects in Moldova

Chisinau, 12 March /MOLDPRES/-Chinese Ambassador to Moldova Zhang Yinghong held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Economics Minister Octavian Calmic on 11 March. Yinghong said Moldovan-Chinese commercial-economic ties were very good and it was possible to boost them up.

According to the Economics Ministry’s press service, the Chinese official noted that Beijing authorities were interested in implementing a string of important investment projects in Moldova. “I am sure that the meeting of the intergovernmental commission in Chisinau will be a good opportunity to start some new investment projects, mutually advantageous for both states,” Yinghong.

For his part, Calmic said China was an important partner for Moldova. He added that the productive bilateral cooperation of the last years resulted in the implementation of more advantageous projects for both states in various fields, including the economy, education, tourism and other sectors. In this context, the Moldovan official emphasized the important need to implement technical assistance agreements by late 2016, according to which Beijing would help modernize and endow the Interior Ministry, Customs Service, energy sectors and other fields with new equipment.

To this effect, Calmic noted that Moldova suggested the intergovernmental commission for commercial-economic collaboration holds a meeting in the second quarter in Chisinau, in order to discuss Moldovan-Chinese bilateral ties and start negotiations on signing a new free trade agreement between both states.  

According to the Economics Ministry, Moldova and China have signed 59 bilateral agreements since 1992, focusing mainly on commercial-economic cooperation, avoidance of double income and capital taxation, air services, consular services, tourism, health, culture, military and other sectors.

Moldova’s trade turnover with China accounted for 375 million dollars in 2015, with a 6.2 per-cent share of its total trade. Both countries signed an economic and technical cooperation agreement in December 2014, according to which China shall offer Moldova a 2.6-million-euro grant for the development of the government and civil society in 2014-2017.

(Reporter A. Mardare, Editor L. Alcaza)