Meeting of Cooperation Committee between Moldova and North Carolina held in Chișinău: progress in implementing joint projects and new priority areas

The Republic of Moldova and the State of North Carolina have reconfirmed their commitment to strengthening and expanding bilateral relations, in the context of the meeting of the bilateral Committee under the Cooperation Partnership between the two sides, held in Chișinău. The event was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi and North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall. During the meeting, progress made in the implementation of joint projects was assessed, and new areas of cooperation for the coming period were identified.

In his opening remarks, Popșoi highlighted the durable and pragmatic nature of the Moldovan-American partnership, emphasizing its steady evolution over more than two decades and its firm orientation toward concrete results for the benefit of citizens.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, cooperation with the State of North Carolina contributes directly to the development of key areas for the Republic of Moldova through projects that reach local communities and generate tangible impact on institutions and on citizens’ everyday lives.

“From education and health to agriculture and security, these initiatives respond to real needs and support our efforts toward modernization and development,” said Popșoi.

Elaine F. Marshall praised the high level of bilateral relations and reconfirmed her commitment to strengthening and expanding them, placing particular emphasis on the importance of institutional and people-to-people connections.

“The partnership between North Carolina and the Republic of Moldova is not defined by distance, but by shared values, cooperation, and the desire to create opportunities for citizens. Over the years, this collaboration has contributed to economic development, to the strengthening of institutions, and to improving quality of life, demonstrating that consistent commitment can generate lasting results,” the U.S. official underlined.

During the meeting, participants assessed the progress made in implementing joint projects and identified new directions for cooperation in the coming period. Discussions focused on priority areas such as security and defense, education, agriculture, health, as well as academic, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges. A series of successful initiatives were highlighted, including the collaboration between the Technical University of Moldova and North Carolina State University to develop an agricultural extension platform and launch pilot farmer advisory centers; health partnerships between Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy and institutions in North Carolina in areas such as pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing; modernization of university libraries through the provision of books and equipment; academic mobility and professional training programs; cooperation with the North Carolina National Guard, including joint training and exercises; as well as cultural and educational initiatives, among which the contribution to the opening of the new building of the Toy Museum in the village of Floreni, illustrating the human dimension of this partnership.

The partnership between the Republic of Moldova and the State of North Carolina was launched in 1999 and covers a broad range of areas, from economic and educational cooperation to defense and humanitarian action. In 2026, the sides will mark 27 years of civilian cooperation and 30 years of defense cooperation, milestones that confirm the strength and relevance of this long-standing relationship.