PM Ponta says long-standing relations with China, a facilitator for joint agriculture, energy, infrastructure projects

AGERPRES special correspondent Daniel Florea reports: The exceptional political relations between China and Romania, the two states' 65-year long tradition of diplomatic and political relations, allow us to consider major economic projects, especially in agriculture, energy and infrastructure, Premier Victor Ponta told the economic meeting in Beijing that gathered today representatives of the major Chinese companies and banks that run business in Romania or plan to invest here.

"I am in China for the second consecutive year. This time, accompanied by members of the Romanian Government, because beyond the exceptional political relationship between the People's Republic of China and Romania, we want to develop — with your help — the economic relationship between the two countries. Not only is Romania the seventh country in the EU28 in terms of population, but it also holds a strategic position on the eastern border of the European Union, having Constanta, the largest Black Sea port, as an asset, since this could be the hub that could concentrate a substantial part of our trade relations with China. Just as I said at the meeting in Bucharest with Prime Minister Li Keqiang, Romania wants to be the most important gateway to the European Union for Europe — China commercial exchanges," the Romanian Prime Minister explained.

Ponta said that in economic terms, Romania had in 2013 the highest economic growth of all EU countries.

"I know that an increase of 3.5 percent is not impressive to China, that sets itself at least a double target every year, but it is important that this growth also relied on the development of Romania's relations with China," the Premier said.

Victor Ponta stressed that the main strategic directions...