Press statements by PM Victor Ponta at Beijing

I would like to tell that from the Government standpoint and mine personally, today, we have attained an extremely important objective for Romania, that of having the first in our European area, a highest level meeting with the President and Prime Minister of China, at two or three months since they took over the office. That means that Romania remained a special partner for China, that this first meeting with the two leaders was the occasion in which we reaffirm the special relationship and we discuss very concrete things, relative to political cooperation, including within the European Union, but also at bilateral level. About economic relations, I started discussing with Prime Minister on some of the projects I presented to you, namely projects of cooperation in energy, in the communication technology. Also, I raised the issue of the access on China’s market, of food products, agro-food, wine, all the others from Romania, therefore, about economic projects and of course, in the other areas. I want this year, to open the Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, to have in Bucharest, the Confucius Institute, to increase the number of scholarships for Romanians who.., Romanian students who come to study in China and also those from China in Romania. I want to draw one conclusion: China is one of the great powers, if not the biggest, but one of the great world powers at present still has and its new leaders, the President, Prime Minister, have a special feeling for Romania. We have to use it, we need to keep this relationship special and I am very glad that I met today this important foreign policy objective of Romania.
Reporter: Mr. Prime Minister, I know you had a pretty relaxed discussion with Chinese President and you talked about the fact that Andrew learns Chinese at school, but the President made a very interesting remark about you, a conclusion of the visit that he had in Romania in 2009. Can you tell us more?
Victor Ponta: Yes, these are the elements, so to speak, of color. Yes, he told me that one of President Obama’s daughters learns Chinese. It means that everyone, especially the new generation, attaches the due importance to China. It was a relaxed discussion, but first, very friendly. The President was in Romania in 2009, in his capacity then. We met, by the way, then, and he knew about the political situation in Romania. With the President, I talked mainly about political relationship of cooperation, again, at the bilateral, international level and how Romania within the EU is a reliable partner for China. With the Prime Minister, as expected, I talked more specifically, on economic projects, and his proposal to have soon, maybe in September, the Joint Economic Committee, with all these projects in advanced form, it allows us to hope that by the end of this year we have very tangible results of this visit.
Reporter: And did the President tell you that he saw since 2009, as a strong leader and now here you met with the President as Prime Minister?
Victor Ponta: I thought you were there as you are so well informed. As you know, and I know, obviously, and Chinese leaders, I have a special relationship and I have been many times to China in various positions I have held - President of the TSD, Minister, afterwards lawmaker, Head of the Opposition, now as Prime Minister - and yes, I met with former leaders and present leaders at various times. I have a personal relationship of respect and friendship to China and I tell you again: for the Chinese leaders of different generations, Romania was a special friend and I planned and I hope that today it happened that this relationship which belonged to the older generations in China and Romania to perpetuate, because otherwise, you know how it is: out of sight, out of mind. And I think that Romania is in big need of a special relationship with China.

Reporter
And clear rules for investors. How do you comment the amendments made by lawmakers to the public procurement law?

Victor Ponta
I did not see them, to be frank.

Reporter
On the one hand, the threshold was raised and on the other hand, there is practically no rule. If you make norms to secure that the competition principle is observed, you can buy everything, from everywhere.

Victor Ponta
I do not know which is the form adopted by Parliament, I will inform myself as soon as I arrive in Bucharest, if it is the form that left the Government, including the one referring to lifting the level of the sum necessary for procedures, I assure you that that form was – before being sent to Parliament – negotiated and accepted by the European Commission and if the EC says that it is something good, I think we can tell it too, yes?

Reporter
Perhaps, the correction fluid will be used again.

Victor Ponta
I could not contradict you either or to agree with you, generally, anything can happen. Once again, I know very well the draft law that left to the Parliament, it is a draft law passed and put in agreement with the European Commission’s requirements, and I will not hesitate in the future, to take all legislative measures to make the procurement procedures, the procedures to access the European funds less bureaucratic and to last less. When today, when we speak, we have a procedure on European funds, to assign some works for motorways that do not complete for one year and a half, you realize that we have to change something, that if we wait for five years, for a contract to be signed, we in vain wonder that we do not have motorways… The same goes with other procurements as well. I do not know the form after Parliament’s debate, I will inform myself whether an amendment was made, the form starting from the Government, is discussed with the European Commission and agreed with it.

Reporter
As we were speaking about highways and large projects you discussed with possible Chinese investors by means of authorities, where is the Minister for large projects, Dan Sova, that you announced?

Victor Ponta
Mr. Sova is in Chongqing, you see him in three hours, if you missed him. He signs today a memorandum of partnership with the Development Bank of China, it is the second bank of China as volume of transactions, but it is the first in terms of foreign investment, and will participate in these days, along with representatives of local authorities, presidents of county commissions and mayors, and with me, just in the opening, but he will remain with the others during the forum, and Mr. Sova will chair in September or October Romania-China Joint Economic Commission.
Reporter: You have proposed a strategic partnership with China focused on economic issues. What was the response?
Victor Ponta
We proposed during meetings with President and Prime Minister raising the relationship between Romania and China at the highest level that Romania has, that of strategic partnership. There are some countries with which we have a strategic partnership and we want - next year is the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations - to have a strategic partnership with China too. Such a strategic partnership involves many areas, from political cooperation, economic one that is of substance, but also cultural, education and other areas. Wait a minute, so that my answer is not unclear. The president and the prime minister said they appreciated very much the proposal that they see it with good eyes, and obviously, we enter into the procedure of analysis, standard diplomatic procedure in order to complete it.

Reporter: On the latest 2011 delegation, there was discussed with the Chinese side including a possible air flight Bucharest -Beijing. Do you have any intention in this regard?
Victor Ponta: I have many intentions, ever since 2003 - right? – since it was suspended. If we speak about TAROM, surely, there is private management at TAROM, and if they need support from the Government, they will have it for the opening of a line. If there is about companies from China, TAROM too has to observe the efficiency standards. Unfortunately, around Romania, where there were direct flights, they closed. I know to one from Budapest closed too, there is not from Sofia or Belgrade, the only ones functioning are national companies from Turkey and Austria. If we want in any way make such a connection viable, economically too, I would do it with great pleasure.
There is something that Romania should do: one month and half ago, we streamlined a lot the visa regime for businesspeople from China. When it comes about usual tourist visas, we are between hammer and anvil; we should have very high and strict standards to access to Schengen. Therefore, once with the access of Romania to Schengen, we can take the following steps to ease the visa regime. We should also have passengers on that route, but the businesspeople from China appreciated very much and on today’s discussions with Chinese Prime Minister, the system amendment and the consulate here, in Beijing is working in this respect. I believe that in a month or two, Mr. Ambassador informed me, the new headquarters of consulate is to be opened. Logistically, things will show much better and I want the presence in Romania of the businesspeople, first of all Chinese, after that of the groups of tourists to be much consistent than at present.
Reporter
You mentioned Tarom, colleagues from Gandul wanted to ask you if that flight was a charter or you concluded a contract for a longer time with those from TAROM?

Victor Ponta
No, I signed a contract for this visit.

Reporter
Can you tell us the cost?

Victor Ponta
It will be public. It is not me who signed the contract, I do not deal with it, but obviously, any public expenditure of the Secretariat General of the Government ..we will present you this. I considered it normal to use a TAROM aircraft and not one from any other company.

Reporter
Mr. Prime Minister, our attention was caught by the car you used for this event. If you can tell us how it was…

Victor Ponta
Impressing. Beyond that, as any fan of cars, it caught my eye. I want you to note that – I tell it as Prime Minister – that we were received everywhere, in Beijing, Shenzen and Hong Kong, surely this evening too, at a very high level. In China, not everyone is received so well, and the way this visit was organized, the quickness of making decisions, since normally, a visit is arranged one, two years before. There are three months since President and Prime Minister took over their offices and we have already been received. There were not photo opportunities visits as the Romanian press may say, but long visits, consistent ones, 45 minutes, 50 de minutes, moments needed to discuss things, not just make an act of presence. To me, that meant very much, it meant as I said earlier, generations of Chinese leaders who change but keep the good impression and relationship with Romania and it would be a pity for us not to act in the same way.

Reporter
Did it occur to you that it may be just an interest of China for the Eastern Europe, because immediately after you, Mr. Viktor Orban will come here?

Victor Ponta
When is Mr. Orban supposed to come?

Reporter
Tomorrow.

Reporter
After you, it is the Prime Minister of Macedonia who is coming.

Victor Ponta
Obviously, I am glad that I was the first to come here. Obviously, China is interested and it is good for us to be interested. Currently, any country and any part of this world want to have good relations with China. If we were quicker, I cannot but be glad and to congratulate ourselves for this.

Reporter
…the scandal in education?

Victor Ponta
What do you refer to?

Reporter
Theft of subjects…

Victor Ponta
The one, who broke the law, should be sanctioned in the toughest possible way, irrespective of whether or not it is about a teacher or a pupil. On the other hand, I want to congratulate all, and I speak about thousands, many thousands of teachers who worked so that the pupils obtain good results at the national tests, one, three –five cases may be interesting, as they stand out, but I want to see those who did their job and achieved good results, I am glad for them.

 

***

PM Victor Ponta has met with the President of China, Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping
Welcome, PM Victor Ponta to China. (…). In 2009, at the 60th anniversary of relations between China and Romania, we had the opportunity to meet in Bucharest. I am very glad that we meet again in Beijing.
It is for the first time when you visit China after taking over the office of Prime Minister of Romania. At the same time, you are the first of the Central and East European leaders whom I met after taking over the office of President of China. I would like to address you sincere thanks for the message sent last year, after the election in the office as Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
You came personally to attend the meeting, as head of a delegation, which proves the special importance extended by Romanian Government and by you personally to the Chinese – Romanian relations and especially for the cooperation between China and the Central and East European countries. I appreciate you very much in this respect!
Victor Ponta
Mr. President, please allow me to convey you the best thoughts from Romania, success in the important mandate you were assigned at the helm of your country. After the visit you paid in 2009, in Romania, you already have many friends and people who appreciate you in a particular way. It is a great joy and honor for me and Romania’s delegation to be the first delegation of a central and East European country you meet after taking over your mandate as President. I want you to believe that this reflects the friendship and extraordinary relationship between Romania and China, a relationship that will celebrate its 65th extremely fruitful anniversary.
I would like to thank you particularly for this meeting as it gives me the opportunity to communicate Romania’s wish to continue this extraordinary relationship, to transmit it once with each new generation of leaders from Beijing and Bucharest.
I want to assure you that in Romania, the new generation and I personally have altogether special feelings of friendship and respect for China.