The year 2019 marks the celebration of 55 years of bilateral relations between Romania and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, characterized by friendship, mutual interest and collaboration. In recent years, the relations witnessed new dynamics, with a result–oriented driven political dialogue and positive developments in the economic / commercial, educational and cultural fields.

In the economic realm, we praise the recent dynamics of bilateral economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which has significantly diversified, in fields such as shipbuilding, aeronautics and transports, and increased with up 13.74% as compared to 2017. Over a five-year period, 2013-2018, the bilateral trade balance was positive for Romania with a steady increase in percentage terms, a bilateral format that we share interest to further enhance and diversify.

At a cultural level, Romania benefits of a good reputation and experiences a fruitful relation with I.R. Pakistan. To give one example, in Islamabad, there is a monument dedicated to the national poets Mihai Eminescu and Allama Iqbal. The six-meter-long marble, bronze and granite monument, located in Blue Area on one of the capital’s most important boulevards in Islamabad, features Pakistani architectural elements and a representation of the Infinite Column.

The bilateral dialogues with the I.R. Pakistan display a large array of domains and formats of cooperation.

The political-diplomatic dialogue is insured by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, which in the last years was regularly facilitated at state secretary level. At prime-minister level, a visit of the I.R. Pakistan Prime-minister was secured in 1995 and a technical call in 2016 on the Romanian side; an exchange of foreign ministers visits took place in Pakistan in 1991 and in Romania in 1999.

At a Parliamentary level, Romania and the I.R. Pakistan enjoy close, active and fruitful collaboration through the Romania – Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group, established on April 26, 2017, and the Pakistani – Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group formed on September 27, 2018.

Regarding the educational bilateral format, a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the Kamra PAC and the Polytechnic University of Bucharest was signed in 2017 and is valid for 5 years. This format provides: exchanges of students, researchers; the development of joint research and development projects; cooperation in individual projects; teacher exchange.

In the realm of economic bilateral format, regular exchanges between the Romanian and Pakistan Chamber of Commerce are taking place, involving business-men, on both sides.

In the cultural domain, the two states periodically conclude cultural agreements and agree on Executive Programs to implement. In the academic year 2017-2018 there were 45 students from Pakistan in Romania (4 with a scholarship, 41 on their own). The areas of study, preferred are Medicine and Economics. The Romanian side offers Pakistani students a maximum of 5 scholarships per year.

With regard to people to people contacts, in order to bring together business and civil society representatives, graduates of higher education and former accredited diplomats, a Pakistan – Romania Friendship Association was established in Islamabad, in December 1998, and a group called Friends of Romania was created in 2014, in Lahore.

As regards the cooperation within international organizations, traditionally, the two countries provide mutual support for their candidacy at the UN and other inter-national bodies. A number of mutually supportive arrangements have been developed for the 2020-2021 timeframe.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Bucharest, Romania