Romania wants increased economic cooperation with Vietnam (Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu)

RADIO ROMANIA NEWS (22 January) - Radiojournal - Producer: Mihaela Mihai - Romania wants to see increased economic cooperation with Vietnam, which could even mean a doubling of trade, to one billion euros in the coming years, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said after welcoming his counterpart from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh. The two officials highlighted the long history of cooperation and friendship between Romania and Vietnam, which will soon reach a new stage. Petruta Obrejan followed the statements from the Victoria Palace and reports:

Reporter: Petruta Obrejan - Romania intends to become Vietnam's main partner for trade access to the European market, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu argued, saying that we have a real competitive advantage, including through our geostrategic position and, moreover, our country was recently admitted with its air and sea borders to Schengen. The Prime Minister explained that the Port of Constanta can become the main centre for Vietnamese exports to the European Union.

Marcel Ciolacu: We have invested enormously and we will continue to invest in the modernisation of the Port of Constanta, as well as river ports. That is why we are ready to offer all our necessary logistics so that, in cooperation with Vietnamese ports, we can significantly increase the volume of transport for the benefit of both countries.

Reporter: In addition to doubling trade, even to 1.000.000.000 euros in the next few years, the Romanian authorities are also interested in developing cooperation in other areas, including agriculture and the pharmaceutical industry. Marcel Ciolacu has also proposed a partnership with Antibiotice Iasi for the distribution of the Romanian company's products on the Vietnamese market. For his part, the Hanoi Chief Executive, Pham Minh Chinh, supported his country's interest in developing partnerships in other areas, adding that geographical distance can be overcome by modern means of transport.

Pham Minh Chinh: We agree to strengthen effective cooperation in other areas: science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, green, circular economy, agriculture, labour, local cooperation.

The two prime ministers are also attending the Romania-Vietnam Economic Forum, where a memorandum will be signed on cooperation in areas of mutual interest, namely SMEs, pharma, agriculture, IT, energy and construction. In the afternoon, the Vietnamese Prime Minister also met President Klaus Iohannis.

Translated by: Radu Matei