Romania keen to revive economic relations with Pakistan
'Pakistan Times' Staff Report

KARACHI: President Senate and former Prime Minister of Romania, Nicolae Vacaroiu emphasized that revival of high-level contacts between Pakistan and Romania should be given priority to reinforce the traditional economic interaction dating back to early 60s.

In a meeting with Ambassador of Pakistan, Sanaullah there, the former Prime Minister who visited Pakistan in 1995 said that the two countries had a great history of mutual economic engagement and political dialogue. His visit to Pakistan and the subsequent agreements confirmed that Romania and Pakistan could develop strong relations. Romanian accession to EU in 2007 would open a new window for friends of Romania to market their products in the expanded EU market, he added.

President Senate, Vacaroiu, agreed that the existing trade did not correctly reflect the level of political understanding between the two countries. While appreciating President Pervez Musharraf’s commitment to fight against global terrorism, he expressed support and sympathies for the victims of the earthquake of October 2005.

He expressed the hope that the Romanian President would be able to realize his pledge to visit Pakistan in 2007 and Pakistan would be able to send a team to revive bilateral consultations between the two Foreign Ministries and both countries would organize the 19th Session of the Joint Governmental Commission in Bucharest this year.

In his capacity as the President of the Senate, Vacaroiu assured Ambassador Sanaullah that he would encourage exchange of visits between specialized committees of the Senates and parliamentary friendship groups.

He, in principle, agreed to visit Pakistan next year to reciprocate the successful visit of Chairman Senate Mohammadmian Soomro to Romania in 2005.

Earlier, Ambassador Sanaullah, informed the President Senate that despite the necessary framework and structure of good cooperation, growth in trade and high level contacts remained unsatisfactory.

Romania could participate in more economically prosperous and robust Pakistan, especially sectors related to oil and gas explorations, estate development and related areas such as cement plants, energy generation projects, IT etc.

The bilateral relations would be reinforced as much as the two governments showed the determination to realize agreed commitments and to invest in their plans, he said.●