Moldovan President Igor Dodon said that most citizens of the country consider Russia to be a strategic friendly partner, and noted the positive dynamics of cooperation at the level of the leadership of countries. The head of the republic discussed the development of relations on Friday at a meeting with the governor of St. Petersburg, Georgi Poltavchenko.
“In spite of everything, there are very good relations between our states at the level of the presidents and at the regional level, we can state that both at the highest level and at the regional level we compensate for what our government and parliament do not do,” Dodon said. He noted the positive dynamics in trade relations and humanitarian sphere and announced the delegation’s visit to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this year.
According to Dodon, in the coming days in St. Petersburg he intends to discuss the prospects for regional cooperation, as well as to meet with representatives of the Moldovan diaspora from all over Russia and students. According to him, several hundred thousand Moldovans live in St. Petersburg. “We will discuss and find out their proposals regarding the fact that our relations become more active,” the head of the republic noted.
“I want to state that we have no serious problems: those attempts to undermine the strategic partnership of certain Moldovan forces are more conditioned by the reluctance of the majority of citizens, but by political internal struggle to try to remain in power after the parliamentary elections.” The majority of Moldovan citizens consider Russia strategic friendly partner” he stressed.
Poltavchenko, in turn, noted that St. Petersburg is ready to cooperate with the republic in the humanitarian sphere and to intensify trade relations in the supply of food. According to him, in 2017 the trade turnover between St. Petersburg and Moldova increased by 24%. He noted that the most active cooperation is developing with the autonomous territorial entity of Gagauzia, where there are many projects. The Governor of St. Petersburg also expressed hope for the continuation of negotiations on the construction of a trading house in the city of Balti in the city, which has been agreed upon since 2015.