Friendship that is a shared treasure

Relations between China and Romania deserve greater care and attention to fully tap their potential

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, as also of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Romania. October 5, 1949, was a landmark date when the two countries opened their doors to each other.

Over the past 70 years, the international situation has undergone tremendous changes, but China and Romania have always treated each other as equals. After two upgrades in bilateral ties, both sides have developed a full-fledged friendly partnership of cooperation.

Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has deepened. The trade volume has risen 22 times, from below $300 million in 2000 to $6.68 billion in 2018. While trade protectionism engulfs the world, China has become Romania's largest trading partner in Asia.

High-quality Romanian agricultural products such as wine, dairy products and honey have crossed oceans and tickled the taste buds of ordinary Chinese people. And Chinese companies have actively involved themselves in Romania's transportation infrastructure, new energy, high-tech and other fields. Chinese brands such as Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo and Xiaomi are well-recognized by local consumers.

Over the past 70 years, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries with a deep history and splendid civilizations have also deepened. Because of simplified visa application process, 10,000 Chinese tourists visit Romania annually.

At the same time, China has established over 100 Chinese language teaching institutes, including four Confucius Institutes, in Romania. The Romania Chinese Cultural Center will be officially unveiled in the coming days.

But the two countries should be far-sighted. Their friendship is a common treasure and deserves more attention and care. Only by looking at bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and firmly grasping the fundamental interests of the two peoples can the two nations properly lead the direction of bilateral relations. They should adhere to mutual benefits and a win-win strategy. Being highly complementary in industrial structure and resource endowments, they should tap unknown areas and produce more economic momentum for bilateral ties.

Last but not the least, they should follow the general trend of the times. Friendship between China and Romania is in line with the common aspirations of the two peoples for peace, development and cooperation. Promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples will lay a profound social foundation for China-Romania ties.

A new blueprint for China-Romania ties is needed to promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields. Both sides should work together to push for greater development of bilateral ties.

To begin with, both countries should clarify basic principles for developing bilateral relations by pursuing the correct political direction, continuously deepening political mutual trust, respecting each other's core interests and major concerns, properly handling differences and ensuring the sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

Second, both countries should enhance reciprocity in relationships. China is willing to strengthen pragmatic ties with Romanian friends in fields such as trade, agriculture, and transportation infrastructure, and tap the potential in new fields such as finance, medical care, and environmental protection. China hopes that the Romanian government creates an open, transparent, fair and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

Third, both countries should consolidate friendship. Friendship between the two peoples is at the root of Sino-Romania ties. China is willing to work with its Romanian counterparts to hold a variety of cultural events, strengthen nongovernmental and local exchanges, and promote people-to-people ties, so that the idea of community with a shared future will find its way even deeper into the hearts of both peoples.

In the 70 years since its founding, China has developed from a poor and backward country into the world's second largest economy. Also, it has created an economic miracle since adopting its reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s.

Having benefited from it, China naturally is a staunch supporter of an open global economy. It is willing to share tremendous opportunities for rapid growth with all countries in the world, and Romania is no exception.

With the joint efforts of the people of both countries, Sino-Romania relations will surely carry forward their friendly relations, write a brilliant chapter in the coming days, and blaze a new trail for future generations.

The author is China's ambassador to Romania. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily

(China Daily Global 10/29/2019 page13)