Loading ...Romania and France are to focus on consolidation of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries, stated Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu at the end of the talks with his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner, on Monday, in Paris, MAE informs in a release. Romanian ForMin stressed that, „this year, the two countries will be focused on providing substance to the road map of this partnership”. „French solidarity with Romania is obvious both at political level and in the field of economic exchanges”, said Diaconescu.
„We discussed aspects related to the European partnership within the European Commission and the European Union in the prospect of changes in 2009, as well as regional, global aspects, EU neighborhood, West Balkans and situation in the Middle East”, added the Romanian Minister. The two foreign ministers also approached aspects connected to the international economic crisis and the way Romania and France can coordinate their efforts to tackle the crisis.
„We should not forget that the Strategic Partnership between Romania and France represents both a political signal, and the consolidation of some already stable economic relations. This partnership also supposes finding the adequate solutions from the economic point of view, favorable to both countries and to main companies which invest in Romania”, stated Romanian ForMin in a press conference.
Cristian Diaconescu added that he discussed with his French counterpart the European solidarity from this angle and underlined that Romania wishes to keep the big French investments, which are outstandingly important, to see protectionism avoided by both sides, as well as to find some commercial and economic formulas capable to ensure going beyond this crisis. As for the Republic of Moldova, the Romanian ForMin underscored that „it has on the table an European project backed by all EU member states.
„It is up to the authorities in Chisinau to have the capacity to grasp what happens and to act as such, in an European spirit”, added Diaconescu. Prior to talks with Bernard Kouchner, Chief of Romanian diplomacy met representatives of the French business circles. On this occasion, the Romanian Minister pointed out that France is the third important commercial partner of Romania, the fourth strategic investor and the first partner as regards institutional twinning between various localities.
Among economic measures the Romanian Govt. has in view are the increase of absorption degree of European funds, zero tax on reinvested profit, capital infusion into two state-owned banks – CEC Bank and Eximbank – and increase of funds destined to stimulate exports. All these under conditions in which the flat tax of 16 percent stays, said Cristian Diaconescu. The Romanian ForMin told French business people that French direct investments in Romania exceeded 2 billion euros and France is an attractive market for Romanian exports.
Business opportunities, as a result of direct bilateral cooperation, include the construction of a TGV railway line – Paris – Vienna – Bucharest – Constanta, of Nabucco gas pipeline and achievement of a competitiveness pole or of joint projects in air and defence industries, Diaconescu also said.
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