Moldova and China plan to sign a bilateral free trade agreement. The issue was discussed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac and China’s Ambassador in Chisinau Zhong Yinghong. The two agreed that the initiation of discussions on the sinning of the accord will be included in the agenda of the meeting of the Moldovan-Chinese commission for economic cooperation that is to take place in Chisinau by the end of this year, IPN reports.
According to the Ministry of Economy’s press office, Zhong Yinghong said the Chinese authorities pay special attention to the development of the bilateral relations with Moldova and plead for their extension in different areas, especially in trade, transport and infrastructure.
In the meeting, the two officials discussed the development of the bilateral commercial-economic relations and the process of implementing three projects financed with the grant of 60 million Yuan (over €2.6 million) that was provided by the Government of China.
Octavian Calmac and Zhong Yinghong agreed to constitute a group of experts that would direct the process of making the technical documentation needed for implementing the projects to modernize the customs control system and the information system of the Ministry of the Interior and to build a Photovoltaic Park, which are supported technically by the Chinese Government.
“The Government of Moldova is interested in the implementation of these three projects because they contribute to fulfilling the commitments assumed by the central authorities in the process of modernizing and reforming different socioeconomic sectors in the country. These projects will also represent a good signal for initiating investment projects in our country, by attracting Chinese companies,” stated Octavian Calmac.
Trade between Moldova and the People’s Republic of China in 2015 came to about US$375 million, accounting for 6.2% of Moldova’s external trade. In 2015, Moldova’s exports to China rose by 3.9% on 2014.
