After 18 months of political and economic turmoil, the Moldovan government has collapsed and Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilica has resigned.
2022 is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Moldova. Yan Wenbin, Chinese ambassador to Moldova, said in an exclusive interview with the Moroccan State News Agency that according to statistics from the Moroccan side, the trade volume between China and Moldova jumped from only 70,000 US dollars at the beginning of the establishment of diplomatic relations to 849 million US dollars in 2021, achieving rapid development. China has become Morocco's fourth largest trading partner. China is one of the main export markets for Moldovan wine, and has approved Moldovan edible vegetable oil and peeled walnuts to enter the Chinese market. As a good friend and partner, China has always provided assistance within its capacity for the social and economic development of Moldova. The latest example is that the largest solar power station in Moldova built with the aid of the Chinese government, the Kleuleni Solar Power Station, was put into operation at the beginning of the year. In the context of Moldova's energy crisis, this project has special significance. China and Morocco have completed several rounds of negotiations on the conclusion of a free trade agreement and achieved some results.
Dumitru Belakis, Moldova's ambassador to China, said that China is one of Moldova's largest trading partners and the largest wine market in Asia. As Moldova's "star product", 9 million bottles of wine are sold to China every year. Walnut plantation production ranks seventh in the world, and Moldova provides 6% of global walnut exports. The Moroccan side invites Chinese partners to consider using Moldova as a cargo distribution center from China to Europe in the future, and hopes to establish the Chisinau Station of the China-Europe freight train as soon as possible. Moldova has provided 43 free trade agreements while pursuing an open economic policy, securing a European market of more than 800 million consumers, including agreements with EU countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Central European Free Trade Area, Turkey and Guam.
In view of the recent sudden change in the political situation with Moldova and the country’s proximity to the conflict zone between Russia and Ukraine, companies that have trade relations with Moldova must pay close attention to the development of the situation, maintain close contact with local customers, and do a good job in risk management in advance to avoid losses.
