Plenary session of Moldovan-American Strategic Dialogue held in Washington

Chisinau, 19 April /MOLDPRES/ - Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu, at a working visit to the United States by Moldova’s delegation, along with Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, chaired the plenary session of the Moldova – United States Strategic Dialogue, resumed after a five-year break, and the meetings of those three joint working groups of the Strategic Dialogue, in which high-ranking officials from both countries participated.      

According to the press service of the Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry (MAEIE), in his speech, Deputy PM Nicu Popescu stressed the importance of giving a concrete dimension to the Moldovan-American relations, which in 2022 mark the 30th anniversary of bilateral partnership, with emphasis on the strategic dialogue and extension of the cooperation sectors.  

„I emphasized the importance of the American assistance in ensuring continuous processes of the country’s modernization, including the support provided for backing the economic development, promotion of digitalization and strengthening the energy security and resilience of Moldova,’’ Minister Nicu Popescu said.

Also, the Moldovan diplomacy head referred to the challenges faced by the Moldovan authorities in the efforts to ensure the social and economic resilience of Moldova’s citizens in the context of the regional insecurity.  

During the meetings of three joint working groups of the bilateral  strategic dialogue, the high-ranking officials of Moldova and the United  States reaffirmed the importance of promoting a solid and deep dialogue and partnership, of promoting democracy, prosperity and security of Moldova, as the agenda of reforms and the process of accession to the European Union are advancing.   

The working group on the rule of law state and good governance tackled the common priorities in the fight against corruption and promotion of human rights and good governance. The United States highly appreciated Moldova’s efforts in the consolidation of the anticorruption institutions, promotion of transparency and judicial independence, as well as the continuous consultancy with the civil society and other partners, in order to ensure a progress on long-lasting reforms. At the same time, the sides agreed on the need to deepen the cooperation on the dimension of strengthening the democracy and the rule of law state.   

The working group on the political and security aspects brought for discussion the efforts of promoting reforms and of modernization of Moldova’s security sector, including the borders’ management, assistance for combating the cross-border threats, consolidation of the cyber security and national defence, as well as support for international peacekeeping operations.   

The working group on the economic and energy aspects stressed the importance of strengthening the energy security and resilience of Moldova. The sides committed to continue the cooperation, in order to back Moldova’s energy diversification, as well as the diversification of the sales markets for the native products in the conditions of the new realities. At the same time, the delegations also discussed the economic and commercial commitment for enhancing Moldova’s prosperity, including the additional assistance on behalf of the USA for the promotion of transparency, efficiency and competitiveness in the key sectors of the Moldovan economy, and to further increase the bilateral trade and investments. The officials committed to take joint efforts, in order to identify opportunities of deepening the economic relations in sectors with high potential, such as the digital technology and the communications’ technology.    

The sides also accepted the launch of a new joint working group within the Moldovan-American Strategic Dialogue and namely the working group in the public diplomacy field, meant to consolidate the inter-human connections, to strengthen the cultural and educational relations, as well as the professional exchanges.     

Moldova’s delegation includes also high-ranking officials of the presidential Administration, office of the prime minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Ministry, Justice Ministry, Defence Ministry, Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry, Interior Ministry and Public Services Agency.   

The Moldova – USA Strategic Dialogue and the joint working groups turn to good account the ascendant way of the bilateral relations. This is the essential dimension of the Moldovan-American partnership and the platform of turning to account of the cooperation potential in a vast area of sectors: strengthening of the rule of law state and good governance, justice reform, security and defence, economic cooperation, energy security and resilience, inter-human contacts and cultural connections.   

Photo: MAEIE