First Lady Mirabela Gradinaru of Romania on March 24 met Lisa Choate, president of the American Councils for International Education, an organisation that runs educational exchange programmes - FLEX and FLEX Abroad, as well as professional development initiatives for the public and private sectors, as part of her official engagements in the United States capital.
According to the organisation, also attending the meeting were Chief Strategy Officer Carter Johnson, and Senior Director of FLEX Valerie Frank. Gradinaru's delegation included ambassador Andrei Muraru, Rector Remus Pricopie, and presidential advisers Diana Punga and Ana-Maria Geana.
"Romania is one of America's most consequential allies in Europe, and the people who will define that alliance's future are in high school today. FLEX invests in those future leadersthe diplomats, military officers, and policymakers who will make decisions that matter for American security. Romania's decision to co-fund this program is a signal to Washington that Bucharest takes that investment seriously, and American Councils is proud to be the implementing partner, helping build that future today. We were equally encouraged by today's conversation about where we can go nextand we look forward to exploring new areas of collaboration on the issues that matter most to both our countries," said Choate.
In her turn, Gradinaru said that "Romania's partnership with the United States is not rhetoricit is built on trust, and trust is built on people. Every FLEX alumnus who goes on to serve in government, in the military, or in public life carries with them a knowledge of America that cannot be learned from a textbook. That is a strategic asset for both of our countries, and Romania's co-investment in this program reflects exactly that conviction. We are not just funding an exchangewe are investing in the future of the alliance. I am grateful to American Councils for the dedication and professionalism with which they have built and sustained this program in Romania, and I was encouraged today by their openness to work with us on the challenges that matter most to Romanian families right now, including protecting our young people from the dangers of technology addiction. That conversation has only just begun."
After the end of the meeting, Gradinaru observed a dynamic international diplomacy simulation conducted by over 100 high school students from around the world as part of the U.S. government-funded Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Programme.
An official delegation of Romania participated in Washington D.C. in the inaugural summit of a global coalition dedicated to children's digital education, organised at the initiative of the First Lady of the United States of America, Melania Trump, who invited Gradinaru to attend.
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