Moldovan head of state meets President of France

Chisinau, 5 February /MOLDPRES/ - President Maia Sandu today had a meeting with President of France Emmanuel Macron, on her visit to Paris, at an invitation by her French counterpart.  This is the first high-level meeting between the presidents of the two countries in the last about 24 years, the presidential press service has reported.  

In the press statements made by the two heads of state, Emmanuel Macron congratulated Maia Sandu on her victory in the presidential elections. ‘’There 24 years since a president of Moldova has not been in Paris. Your visit is not accidental; it corresponds to the turning point which Moldova has recently witnessed, through the election by the people in the office of president of an upright and honest personality in her entire political activity, who has been fighting for a rule of law state, without corruption, for years.  

‘’Your election is an extraordinary message, which gives hopes. It is for sure that you need courageous reforms, much ambition and tenacity. I want France and EU to be able to accompany you in this approach,’’ the French president said.    

For her part, President Maia Sandu thanked the French state for the support and assistance provided during years. ‘’The people of my country deserve living in a better state, knowing that they are protected by the law and that their right to freedom is holy. I committed to do this and I am happy that France is willing to help us in this approach, just as it has been doing this, with solidarity, in all the 29 years of the Moldovan-French relations. We felt this solidarity in the most diverse sectors. We felt it when we were assisted to write our laws, as a young independent state. We felt the solidarity of France through development projects carried out in Moldova’s settlements, helping my fellow countrymen to have better living standards; we feel this solidarity through the support provided to our schools and teachers,’’ Maia Sandu said.    

In the context, the head of state highlighted the role of the Francophonie and the inter-human relations in the cooperation between the two states. ‘’Moldova has the privilege to have two families – Europe and Francophonie. France meant the chance to quality education for thousands of young people from Moldova and became the second home for tens of thousands of Moldovans. And I met in Moldova French people who, while liking our people, liked my country, which has become the second home for them,’’ the Moldovan president said. As for the economic relations, Maia Sandu said that France was one of the first ten investors in Moldova. Respectively, ‘’we want to increase the volume of trade with France; we want even more French investments in our country.‘’

The statements were followed by a discussion of about two hours, during which the two leaders tackled more subjects of common interest – the political and economic relations, bilateral agreements in the social and economic field, investment and infrastructure projects, cooperation for education and culture, possibility to help Moldova to get anti-Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible.  

„The openness proved by President Emmanuel Macron makes me be confident that the dialogue between the two countries will advance, being marked by our joint will to boost the political, economic and cultural ties,’’ President Maia Sandu said following the meeting with the French leader.   

photo: presedintie.md