ISLAMABAD (DNA) – As Romania works to expand its relationship with Pakistan particularly in economic and defence sectors, it is also exploring the prospects of benefiting from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan Nicolae Goia, while delivering a lecture at Strategic Vision Institute (SVI) – an Islamabad based think tank said, “We are trying to understand how Romania can be part of it”.

Ambassador Goia hailed CPEC as a major economic project and maintained that many countries would join it.

Romania has been the fastest growing economy of the European Union for second consecutive year and is the 7th largest market in EU. Pakistan and Romania have longstanding cooperation in political, economic, cultural and scientific fields. The bilateral trade is valued at $80-100 million per annum.

Recalling Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s stopover in Bucharest last December, the envoy noted a mutual desire to deepen relations, which were based on “mutual trust”. He said the two countries have an “extremely dynamic political dialogue”, which is “result oriented” and grounded in “pragmatism”.

The ambassador said promoting trade and economic relations and defense ties were high on his agenda.

Ambassador Goia said Pakistan and Romania were negotiating an agreement on defense industries. He believed that the agreement, once finalized, would serve as a framework for cooperation in defense sector.

Moreover, he said, efforts were on to revitalize Pak-Romania Joint Business Council and organize its meeting. Besides, he is trying for the establishment of a Pak-Romania Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The ambassador said Romania had extensive experience of working in Pakistan and in past had been associated with a tractor assembling project and setting up of a refinery.

He said Pakistan was a victim of “deficit of understanding” and misperceptions. “Pakistan is not the way it is described. There is an extremely friendly environment here and people are competent and friendly. Pakistan is also a responsible member of international community.” He was very appreciative of Pakistani culture and values.

President SVI Dr Zafar Iqbal Cheema expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of the relationship between the two countries and expected that they would strengthen in coming times. He stressed the need for exploring new avenues of cooperation between the two countries and better exploitation of trade and investment potential. DNA

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