China’s opportunities shared with the world; Chinese Ambassador to Moldova says deepening bilateral cooperation can bring benefits to Moldova

The cooperation between Moldova and China is entering a new stage of development, in the context of the adoption of Beijing’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, a strategic document that opens concrete opportunities for Chisinau. China’s Ambassador to Moldova Dong Zhihua has made statements to this effect, at a topic-related conference dedicated to the opportunities that China provides to the world.

According to the diplomat, the plan adopted by the National People’s Congress outlines China’s development directions for the next five years and represents “not only a plan for internal modernization, but also an invitation to other states to advance together on the path of development.”

China’s Ambassador to Moldova emphasizes that deepening bilateral cooperation can bring economic, social and political benefits to Moldova, while also contributing to regional stability and development.

“Presently, Moldova is advancing its process of accession to the European Union. China respects Moldova’s choice of European integration and is willing to continue to provide support, within its capabilities, for the country’s development and the improvement of people’s living standards. The China–EU relations should be defined as a partnership, characterized by cooperation, based on autonomy and oriented towards mutual benefits. China is ready to cooperate with Moldova, on the basis of mutual respect and mutual advantage, to deepen cooperation in various fields, promote sound development of bilateral relations and contribute jointly to regional peace, stability and prosperity,” the ambassador said in her speech at the opening of the conference titled, China in spring: China’s opportunities shared with the world.

Dong Zhihua noted that China’s economy, which has recorded an average annual growth of over 5 per cent in recent years, remains a global “engine of growth,” providing stability for supply chains and new markets for exports. In the context, China has already become one of Moldova’s main trading partners and is interested in importing more Moldovan products, especially wines and agri-food goods.

“Last year, China became Moldova’s second-largest trading partner and is ready to import more wines, agricultural and food products from Moldova. The Chinese side invites Moldova to capitalize on the opportunities offered by China’s development and to participate in the Big Market for All: Export to China initiative,” said Dong Zhihua.

At the same time, the Chinese side encourages Moldova’s participation in initiatives to promote exports to the Chinese market, as well as the exploitation of the logistical potential provided by the China–Europe trade routes. The ambassador highlighted the construction of the new land–sea corridor in western China and the implementation of the Smart Customs programme. Moldova is seen as a strategic point in the Central and Eastern Europe region.

“Moldova lies on an important corridor located in Central and Eastern Europe, enjoying clear geographical advantages. In the current complex geopolitical context, the connectivity network developed by China–Europe freight trains plays  an essential role in maintaining the stability of regional supply chains. Moldova can take advantage of this corridor to expand its foreign trade. China is willing to continue supporting, according to the needs of the Moldovan side, the implementation of ‘small, but beautiful’ social projects, contributing to the country’s economic and social development,” the ambassador said.

The development model promoted by China focuses on citizens’ well-being, inclusion and broad public consultation. The five-year plan was drafted based on millions of proposals from the population, which, according to the ambassador, reflects an orientation towards public policies tailored to the real needs of society, she also underlined.

In the context of accelerated global transformations, China is increasingly consolidating its role on the international stage, including in relation to Moldova. Experts believe that China’s development model and the initiatives promoted by Beijing can represent important opportunities for Chisinau, especially in the perspective of European integration.

Director of the Institute of Legal, Political and Sociological Research of Moldova State University (USM) Victor Juc says that the world is going through a period of “remodeling of the world order,” and China is playing an increasingly relevant role in this process. According to him, the model promoted by Beijing, focused on equity and economic development, stands out through direct investments made in various states, regardless of their level of development.

The expert believes that China could have an important role also in the context of relations between Moldova and the European Union, given that the global order is becoming increasingly fragmented. In his opinion, Beijing does not necessarily pursue the status of a classic superpower, but rather assumes a role of “management and administration” of global balances.

“What is certain is that the current world is going through a period of remodeling of the world order. China’s equity-based model is very important. We must emphasize that, from the perspective of economic development as well, China comes with direct investments in other countries, whether they are less or more developed. I believe that China would have an important role in the context of an alliance between Moldova and the European Union. China has not yet become the second superpower and I do not think it pursues this goal. Today, the world is oriented towards fragmentation and I believe that it is namely China that is taking on the global role of management and administration,” Victor Juc said at the conference.

For his part, the former Ambassador of Moldova to China, Dumitru Braghis, highlights the spectacular transformations that this country has undergone in recent decades. He says that the developments noticed in China reflect a strong dynamic of development, supported by ambitious global initiatives.

“The first time I was in China was in 1990, and I returned more than 30 years later – in 2020 – and I was impressed by what I saw, by the radical changes this country has gone through. Recently, there have appeared many major global initiatives that place China at the forefront of the world’s development movements,” said Dumitru Braghis.

Braghis particularly underscores the importance of the Belt and Road initiative, which, in his opinion, is becoming increasingly accessible for such states as Moldova. While the projects were initially very large in scale, there is now the possibility of implementing smaller projects, including those under 10 million dollars, which makes them feasible for Chisinau.

In the context, the former diplomat considers that the Moldovan authorities should make more active use of these opportunities, as China expands its initiatives and economic influence globally.

The conference, China in Spring: China’s Opportunities Shared with the World, was organized by China Media Group, in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Moldova.