Moldova’s pro-European president will visit Romania next week or wide-ranging talks with high-level officials, her office said Saturday.
The visit marks 30 years of generally close ties between the neighbors which share a joint history.
Maia Sandu will meet with President Klaus Iohannis on November 23, and the two will have a joint press conference following talks, her office in Chisinau said.
It is her first official visit to Romania since a pro-European coalition came to power after snap elections were held in Moldova in July. The 49-year-old was elected a year ago after defeating pro-Russian Igor Dodon.
Romania is Moldova’s closest partner and supports its bid to move closer to the European Union. Bucharest, a EU member, has donated hundreds of thousands of Covid-19 vaccines to the former Soviet republic. It has also sold 200,000 with the agreement of Brussels which also set the price.
During her one-day visit, the former World Bank economist will meet acting Prime Minister Florin Citu and the speakers of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Talks will focus on joint projects of “strategic interests” in the energy, transport, health, education and culture and IT.
The president will be accompanied by a group of high-level Moldovan officials including Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu Infrastructure and Development minister Andrei Spînu, the culture and education ministers.
The leaders are expected to sign an agreement setting out key areas of cooperation.
Moldova declared independence in 1991 in the wake of the breakup of the Soviet Union. It was part of Romania until 1941 when it was annexed under a Nazi-Soviet pact during World War II.
The official language is Romanian, and many Moldovans also speak Russian.
