BUCHAREST, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday that there is "a blood bound partnership" between Moldova and Romania and Bucharest will remain Moldova's partner in its European integration process without reserves.
According to news reaching here from Chisinau, Basescu made Wednesday a one-day official visit to Moldova, at the invitation of his Moldovan counterpart Nicolae Timofti.
"The Republic of Moldova has no alternative other than the European one for its future course," Basescu said at a joint press conference with Timofti.
Timofti said, in his turn, that Romania is a country that supports, in every possible way, Moldova's integration into the EU.
Basescu noted that his visit to Chisinau should be interpreted as a visit which comes at a very important moment for the future of Moldova, which is preparing for the initialing of the association agreement with the EU and the free trade agreement at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit to be held on Nov. 27-28, 2013.
Basescu also said Romania wants to help Moldova diversify its energy sources.
"Romania is interconnected at the European energy network and can offer Moldova an alternative for its gas and electric power imports," the Romanian president said.
The construction works for a Moldova-Romania gas pipeline will start in August, while a high voltage network between the two countries will complete in October and another two networks of this kind will further be built, Basescu added.
The Romanian president also promised that Romania will continue granting scholarships for the Moldovan young people and their number will rise from 5,500 to 6,000 scholarships in 2014-2015.
China’s weekly story
(2013.7.5-7.12)