Fostering the Time-Honoured Friendly and Multi-Faceted Co-Operative Relationship between Vietnam and Romania

Vietnam is pleased to see the achievements in all aspects that the Romanians have recorded in recent years. In 2015, Romania’s economy grew by 3.4% and exports reached US$56.9 billion. As of the end of last year, total foreign direct investment in the European country reached US$82.1 billion while its overseas investment hit US$3.14 billion. Romania’s foreign policy prioritises deeper integration in the European Union and promoting ties with partner nations.

 

The time-honoured friendly and multi-faceted co-operative relationship between Vietnam and Romania has seen positive developments in all fields. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1950. Bilateral ties have been driven by frequent high-level delegation exchanges, with the most recent being visits to Romania by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in 2009, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in 2014 and visits to Vietnam by Romanian President Ion Iliescu in 2002 and Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Policy of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Koridi Attlia in 2011.

 

The Vietnamese people will never forget the Romanian people’s passionate support and valuable assistance during the revolutionary period as well as during national construction. Today, the two countries are developing their time-honoured friendly and multi-faceted co-operative relationship. Building on the relationship, the two countries supported each other’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting forum, the two countries endorsed Hungary’s initiative on the role of water in sustainable regional development strategies. To date, the two sides have signed seven bilateral documents to build the legal framework, creating favourable conditions for furthering bilateral relations.

 

Economic and trade co-operation between Vietnam and Romania also witnessed positive developments. In 2015, two-way trade reached US$175.6 million, up 16% compared with the previous year. Since 2010, Romania has become one of the major markets for Vietnam’s seafood, importing about 12,000 tonnes a year. As of the end of 2015, Romania had three FDI projects in Vietnam with total capital of US$2.1 million.

 

There are also a wide range of cultural exchange activities between the two countries, helping to strengthen understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Since 1992, Romania has restarted granting scholarships to Vietnamese students. During the 2003-2009 period, Romania trained numerous engineers for PetroVietnam. Currently about 50 Vietnamese students are studying in Romania and about 450 Vietnamese workers are working at shipyards and constructions sites in Romania. The Vietnamese community in Romania has an estimated population of 500, and are well integrated into local society and united towards the motherland.

 

Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos’ visit to Vietnam aims to affirm the determination of the two countries’ leaders and people to foster the time-honoured friendly and multi-faceted co-operative Vietnam-Romania relationship, strengthen co-operation in trade, investment, education, culture, tourism, science, technology, oil and gas, energy, defence technology, environment, labour and local co-operation, as well as to discuss international and regional issues of shared interest.