At Shangri-La Dialogue summit, Minister Birchall asserts Romania's stance as relevant regional, global security player

Deputy PM Ana Birchall, attending the 17th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, affirmed Romania's stance as a relevant player in regional and global security, with emphasize on the wider Black Sea region, the Foreign Ministry said in a release. 

The Romanian official's participation in the Shangri-La Dialogue held over May 31 - June 3 reflected Romania's profile as a relevant actor in the European geopolitical space, an active EU and NATO member, bringing definite added value to preparations for Romania's term at the EU Presidency in the first half of 2019. 

"Strengthening regional and global cooperation is the only way to transform the wider Black Sea region from a region of confrontation into a bridge between peoples and cultures. Romania considers that formulas of sectoral co-operation between riparian countries can contribute to building confidence in the wider Black Sea region, and we therefore advocate a close cooperation between relevant actors in the region, civil society organizations and public authorities. Romania's long-term constructive approach in the wider Black Sea region will definitely serve as a platform for debate and cooperation, a subject that will be on the agenda of priorities as Romania takes over the Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019," the Romanian Deputy Prime Minister underlined during debates, the release mentions. 

Birchall also conveyed the conference a message on behalf of Romanian PM Viorica Dancila, underlining that "Romania and Singapore will have an important opportunity to work together towards bringing Europe and Asia even closer, both during the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and during Singapore's term as co-ordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations over 2018 - 2021." 

On the sidelines of the forum, the Romanian Deputy PM discussed with US Defense Secretary James Mattis, reiterating that the strategic partnership with the US is the fundamental pillar of Romania's foreign policy, and thanking the US for supporting Romania's candidacy for OECD membership. 

Birchall also discussed with Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera, to whom she conveyed Prime Minister Dancila's appreciation for Japan's supporting Romania's OECD bid, as well as with British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson, highlighting on the occasion the good cooperation within the bilateral strategic partnership. 

The Romanian official also met with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Khalid Al Attiyah, Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh, and with Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan. 

"During the talks, Ana Birchall highlighted Romania's interest in developing bilateral economic cooperation and thanked her partners of dialogue for supporting our country's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term," the release said. 

In the same context, Birchall had bilateral meetings with senior Singapore officials: Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and Deputy Secretary and Defence Cyber Chief for Singapore's Ministry of Defence David Koh. 

The meetings highlighted the need to strengthen the political and diplomatic dialogue between Romania and Singapore, with focus on developing the significant potential for cooperation in economy and in areas such as cyber-security, R&D, education and IT & C. The sides also affirmed interest in co-operation on identifying joint projects in the context of Romania's taking over the Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2019 and the Republic of Singapore's acting as coordinator of the EU - ASEAN relations between 2018 - 2021. 

The Air Services Intergovernmental Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of Singapore was signed on May 31, 2018 in the presence of the two countries' Deputy Prime Ministers. On behalf of Romania, the document was signed by the Secretary of State for bilateral global affairs Monica Gheorghita, while the Permanent Secretary of Singapore's Ministry of Transport Loh Ngai Seng signed on behalf of Singapore.