President of Germany pays official visit to Moldova

Chisinau, 29 September /MOLDPRES/ - President Maia Sandu in Chisinau today met President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during his official visit paid to Moldova. The two heads of state had a face-to-face meeting, after which they led the talks in enlarged format with the members of the two delegations, the presidential press service has reported.  

„We discussed the political developments in our countries in the last months and the agenda of reforms of the new Moldovan government. My interlocutor assured me of Germany’s support for the reforms planned by the cabinet, as well as for our European agenda,’’ President Maia Sandu said.

The two presidents also discussed the Moldovan-German bilateral cooperation and the development programmes with German financing carried out in Moldova. They include local and regional development programmes, backing the rule of law state, education and health. ‘’We count on the continuity of the German programmes already launched in Moldova, as well as on new opportunities of cooperation, which might be initiated during the next months after consultation between the governments. Germany is an important partner of Moldova, which supported development programmes worth over 290 million euros in Moldova and backed us in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, for which we are deeply grateful,’’ Maia Sandu said.   

In the context, the Moldovan head of state welcomed the package of assistance worth 10 million euros, provided to Moldova’s government, announced by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at a news conference held by the two officials today.  

„EU needs a stable and prosperous eastern neighbourhood and the reforms in Moldova represent the most courageous example in the entire region. We are confident that the success of the democratic and social changes in your country will be propagated outside the country’s borders as well. We are sure that Moldova is on the good way. The political, reforms, combating corruption, a functional administration are the basic pillars for a society which aspires to give its citizens personal possibilities of development and a decent living. They represent also the basis of a gradual rapprochement with EU,’’ the German President said.     

During the two-day official visit to Moldova, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is accompanied by more representatives of the German Presidency and Federal Government, as well as by a group of business people from Germany.   

„I hope that the meetings on the visit’s agenda, including the participation in the Moldovan-German economic forum, organized on this occasion, will open new perspectives of cooperation for our countries and will bring new German investments in Moldova’s economy. We want to become a prosperous country, an oasis of stability in the region and a reliable partner for Germany and the European Union,’’ President Maia Sandu said.    

Photo: Presidency