Ambassador Yan Wenbin says China to continue actively promoting access for Moldovan products to Chinese market

Interview given by Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Moldova Yan Wenbin exclusively with the MOLDPRES State News Agency, on the occasion of the National Day of China.   

MOLDPRES: Mr. Ambassador, the 74th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China will be marked on 1 October. Which are the achievements with which the Chinese people will mark this event of special importance?  

Yan Wenbin: The achievements got since the foundation of the People’s Republic of China can be boiled down to a single sentence: we embarked on a road of modernization in Chinese style, in order to edify a socialist, modern and strong country till the middle of this century and to carry out the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Through modernization in Chinese style, China has become the second biggest economy of the world and carried out the greatest industrialization from the history of the mankind.   

China’s development is an extremely important factor of stabilization in the present quite complex international geopolitical and economic situation. In the first half of the 2023 year, China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) registered a growth of 5.5 per cent against the same period of the year before, placing the country at the head of the principal world economies. According to the most recent report published by the International monetary Fund (IMF) in last July, it is estimated that China’s economy will record an increase of 5.2 per cent this year, contributing by one third to the global economic growth. Now, people from some countries endevour, with might and main, to disparage the perspectives of China’s economic development, just as pupils who got the marks of 1 or 2, but are laughing at those who got the marks 4 or 5.  

One of the principal directions of China’s development presently is the achievement of a high-level scientific and technological independence, as well as of a comprehensive modernization of the industry, this being the goal we firmly pursue and which we will eventually achieve. The Chinese company Huawei Technologies has successfully overcome numerous ill-meaning blockages and developed its own highly-advanced chips, successfully re-launching top smartphones on market, this being an outstanding example.  

MOLDPRES: In an interview given to China’s media several months ago, the Moldovan diplomacy head, Nicu Popescu, said that ‘’Moldova and China maintained ‘’excellent relations’’ and that ‘’we had a very good and quite positive dialogue with China.’’ Which are, however, the sectors in which the sides have managed to develop the Moldovan-Chinese relations more?    

Yan Wenbin: Just as Mr. Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and European Integration Minister Nicu Popescu said, the relations between China and Moldova are developing excellently, with fruitful results. We find out with happiness that this year the high-level contacts between the governments of the two countries were resumed through the visit to China by Deputy Prime Minister, Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Vladimir Bolea and Culture Minister, Mr. Sergiu Prodan. We sincerely hope and we are sure that such meetings will become more frequent in the long run.    

During years, China and Moldova have strictly observed the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits and non-interference with the internal affairs, backing each other in the efforts of maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is the solid political foundation of the relations between China and Moldova. The Chinese side has always observed Moldova’s decision to independently and sovereignly choose its own way of development, in line with its own interests. We sincerely hope that Moldova will enjoy peace and prosperity and the residents will lead a satisfied and happy life. We are also happy to see Moldova developing relations with other countries and organizations. China has no geopolitical interest or personal benefit in this country. We develop relations with Moldova, having no intention to regard or oppose any side. We are confident that the development of the relations between our countries will not affect the complex situation internationally and regionally.  

China nourishes a deep friendship to the Moldovan people, has provided and will continue to provide support, as far as possible, for the economic and social development of Moldova, including the providing of humanitarian assistance for the relocation of Ukrainian refugees. China will always keep in memory the help and support provided by the government and people of Moldova for the evacuation of more than 3,000 Chinese citizens from Ukraine.     

There is presently no political problem in the relations between China and Moldova and we are confident that they will not appear in the long run as well. The main goal of our countries is to continue to explore the potential of cooperation in such sectors as trade, investments, tourism, culture, etc., in order to bring concrete benefits to our peoples. For instance, a Moldovan citizen began with a quite small capital and started selling Moldovan wine and other products in China. He/she managed to flourish and grow rich through years of assiduous work.     

MOLDPRES: China is among the most important economic partners of Moldova, as we managed to import beginning with consumer goods, to equipment and telecommunications and to export, for instance, millions of bottles of wine annually. To what extent this potential of commerce has been turned to account between our countries and which fields must be turned to good account, in order to develop the economic relations?   

Yan Wenbin: The trade between China and Moldova started practically from the scratch and now it has developed at a large scale. According to statistics by the Moldovan side, in 2022, the volume of trade between China and Moldova reached 957 million dollars and in the first half of this year, it stood at 463 million dollars, recording a growth of 11.88 per cent against the same period of the previous year. China thus has become the third commercial partner of Moldova, positioned following Romania and Ukraine. 

There is the saying, both in China and in Moldova: ‘’Do not give a man fish, but teach him/her to fish!’’ In this respect, the wider opening of the Chinese market for Moldovan products represents one of the ways through which ‘’we teach Moldova to fish.’’ I can say that, at present, I am the most active spokesperson and promoter of the Moldovan farming products among the Chinese consumers. The popularity and reputation of the Moldovan wine on the Chinese market are continuously increasing. Through the efforts of our Embassy, the Chinese customs authorities simplified the procedures of verification and approval for the import of groats from the grapes and sunflower seeds from Moldova. The two sides are going to officially sign the proper documents. China’s Embassy established, jointly with the authorities of Moldova, a mechanism of permanent coordination and will continue to actively promote the access on the Chinese market of such Moldovan products as grapes seeds, apples, table grapes, sweet cherries, plums and food products for small babies.   

MOLDPRES: Presently, Moldova’s government speeds up the process of use of the green energy and China is a global leader in this context. Do our countries have perspectives of cooperation in this sector?

Yan Wenbin: Moldova was hit by the problems regarding the supply with energy, especially in the last years. The diversification of the energy sources through the development and use or renewable energy is, undoubtedly, an important way for Moldova to achieve sustainable development of the energy sector.    

China is a global leader in the field of development of the renewable energy; it has significant capacities in the research and development, production of equipment, constructions of engineering and external cooperation as regards the photovoltaic technology, electric vehicles, wind energy and in other related fields, having high-quality technology, with an excellent quality-price ratio and, besides, it is safe and reliable.      

The cooperation between China and Moldova in the sector of development of new energies has already a solid basis. The photovoltaic park from Criuleni, built with China’s support, was put into operation in early 2022 and stays the biggest solar station from Moldova, working stably and backing with force the local economic development and the well-being of local communities. As far as I know, numerous other solar centres work in Moldova, with smaller dimensions, with technology and equipment also brought from China.     

China is willing to extend and deepen the cooperation with Moldova in the sector of renewable energies through a variety of means. This perspective is stable and full of opportunities.  

MOLDPRES: There have been more statements putting that the Chinese investments in Moldova are not at the level expected. What might we do to improve the situation? 

Yan Wenbin: At present, the Chinese investments in Moldova are quite limited – a situation which must change as soon as possible. This represents also a priority for China’s Embassy and for me in my capacity of ambassador. Moldova needs foreign investments and technology and China is one of the biggest countries of the world investing in and exporting technologies. The collaboration in the investments field has a significant potential, especially in the key sectors of Moldova’s development, such as agriculture, processing of farming products, digitalization, transport and communications infrastructure, as well as the renewable energies.    

To facilitate the Chinese investments in Moldova and achieve significant results as soon as possible, the first thing which must be made is to allow more Chinese investors having a more comprehensive and deeper understanding of Moldova’s investment potential. Certainly, we want and we are confident that Moldova will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment to Chinese investors.      

MOLDPRES: Taking into account that the tourism, education and cultural exchanges represent extremely important aspects of the bilateral relations, please, point out the actions which give force and vitality to the friendship between our nations? 

Yan Wenbin: We are happy to notice that the exchanges of people and the cooperation in the inter-human sector between China and Moldova become ever closer. Presently, more and more Moldovans are interested in studying the Chinese language and ever more go to China to study, work and start businesses. The number of mixed marriages between Chinese and Moldovans has grown; girls from Moldova get married with men from China and Moldovan men marry Chinese women.

The cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Moldova gradually grow. Last year, the Embassy of China organized such events as the Festival of Chinese Film and Concert of Chinese Music. This year, the famous National Symphony Orchestra of the Teleradio-Moldova Public Company will make a tour to China. Moldova has rich tourist resources and the Chinese tourists have an extremely high purchasing power. If more Chinese tourists chose to visit Moldova, this might have a significant impact on the development of the related sectors from Moldova. To this end, China’s Embassy coordinates and works actively with the competent authorities and enterprises from China and of Moldova. Our ideal goal would be that, with the increase in the number of Chinese tourists, a direct flight between China and Moldova should be eventually opened. In the first half of September, Moldova’s Culture Minister Sergiu Prodan visited China, participating in the sixth edition of the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Exhibition. On this occasion, China and Moldova planned a roadmap for cultural and tourist cooperation between the two countries at the next stage.    

The educational cooperation between China and Moldova is under development and consolidation. In last April, the China Agricultural University and the Technical University of Moldova, respectively, the West China College of Stomatology of the Sichuan University and the Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy signed online memorandums. These two documents are under active implementation and the sides have already made offline exchanges.      

In 2011 and 2016, China and Moldova implemented two phases of the project of the Centre of Cooperation for Traditional Chinese Medicine, which have been well-received by the residents of Moldova. Presently, the two countries approved the implementation of the third phase of the project and if everything goes well, it will be launched this year.   

MOLDPRES: One decade ago, China launched the One Belt One Road Initiative. To what extend has this initiative managed to become a platform of international cooperation, to re-make up-to-date the ancient spirit of the Chinese nation, as regards the trade, cooperation on the economic dimension? 

Yan Wenbin: The One Belt One Road Initiative is a major measure of China to widen its openness outside, which has gradually become a globally public asset and an open platform for international cooperation. It is based on the principles of extended consultation, joint contribution and sharing, in order to carry out the common development, prosperity and well-being.  

In the last ten years, over three quarters of the countries of the world and 32 international organizations have got involved in this initiative. The investments have reached almost one trillion of dollars, generating over 3,000 projects on cooperation in such fields as investments, trade, finance, technology, society, culture and social well-being, creating 420,000 jobs in the countries of the region. Just to give some examples from Moldova’s neighbourhood, in Europe: the Pireu port of Greece has regained its vitality, the Iron Works Smeredevo from Serbia witnessed flourishing and the Hungary-Serbia railway has become an important knot for the quick connection between the Central Europe and China, with more than 65,000 freight trains moving between Europe and Asia, becoming true steel caravans.   

In next October, the third One Belt One Road International Cooperation Summit will be held in Beijing, which will contribute, in continuation, to the promotion of the international cooperation within this initiative. The cooperation within the One Belt One Road Initiative is open, based on principles of equality and mutual benefits and does not have the goal to create closed circles or the achieving of egoist geopolitical advantages. China will not stay on the way of actions which can promote the common development, prosperity and well-being, even if the country itself does not want or is unable to accomplish.   

MOLDPRES: The mankind faces multiple problems, challenges, which might change its course of development. What strategies China is working out to approach these global challenges?  

Yan Wenbin: The international situation is presently extremely complicated and tense and the world peace, security and development face unprecedented challenges and difficulties. Some things, which in the past we deemed hard to imagine or impossible to occur, take place as a drama nearby us. The mankind is at a crucial moment, facing a historical choice as to the direction it will follow.   

To avoid for the world to slide on a slope unwished by anybody, the only correct way is that all countries, especially the great powers, should really observe the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and reciprocal benefits. In the context, China proposed the concept of Community of Common Destiny for Mankind and launched the One Belt One Road Initiative, the Initiative for Global Development, Initiative for Global Security and the Initiative for Global Civilization. At the basis, all these initiatives have the goal to promote the democratization of the international relations and accomplish a world characterized by long-term stability and common prosperity. Chine does not limit itself to propose these concepts and initiatives on paper, but implements them on the international stage step by step. For instance, by China’s sustained efforts of mediation, the relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have normalized. Also, as for the crisis in Ukraine, China has always supported a fair and responsible position, actively promoting the dialogue and negotiations, instead of remaining passive or fueling the conflict and earning benefits.       

China resolutely follows an independent and peaceful policy, sincerely implementing the principle, ‘’do not do to the other one what you do not like.’’ China does not look for hegemony, does not aim at setting spheres of influence, does not fuel conflicts, clashes or even wars, in order ‘’to divide and govern.’’ And certainly, China would never do something which is to bring damages to the entire mankind, such as the unloading of radioactive waste in oceans.    

MOLDPRES: Mr. Ambassador Yan Wenbin, thank you for the kindness to give this interview with our Agency.