In a recent interview with Beijing Review reporter Yan Wei, Romanian Ambassador to China Viorel Isticioaia-Budura spoke about what Romania can bring to the union, in particular, its experience and expertise in managing relations with China.

Beijing Review: What does the EU accession mean to Romania? What role will Romania play in the organization?

Viorel Isticioaia-Budura: January 1 is an historic moment for Romania and the Romanian people because we have been waiting for this moment for quite some time. Being a European country, which is related by history, culture and many social affinities to the rest of Europe, we feel it's like coming back to the family. I believe this will enter into the history of the Romanian nation as an irreversible course of the Romanian people toward prosperity.

Romania brings to the EU a dynamic economy with a constant growth rate. The economic growth of Romania was over 6 percent last year. It will probably reach 8 to 8.3 percent this year, superior to the average growth rate of most EU members. We bring a skilled labor force, a market of over 22 million people as well as many business opportunities.

We believe that we can also bring to the EU a successful model of how to handle relations between national minorities and the majority. Romania has succeeded in establishing a new type of relationship between national minorities and the majority: Between them there should be "harmony," as the Chinese say, cooperation and coexistence.

Another important contribution of Romania to the EU is its strategic location, neighboring the Black Sea region, the West Balkans and former Soviet Union states. The Romanian position represents an important asset for the EU in the region. In the future, it will be the eastern border of the EU. We will not only be a limit, but will also be a good platform on which the EU can reach out to the neighboring areas. We will not be an obstacle. At the borders, we will be a gate. We will guard this gate for the safety and security of the EU but at the same time try to help the union reach out and expand its cooperation over the borders to those potential partners.

Many experts foresee an important movement of businesses and capital from Western Europe to new horizons with good markets and potential. And I would like to see Romania's accession to the EU as offering new business opportunities. It is like a logistics center for many European businesses moving eastward, because we have the Danube River, which comes from Germany down to the Black Sea. It could become an important axis of transportation from north to south and from south to north.

China and Romania pledged to establish a "comprehensive friendly and cooperative partnership" during President Hu Jintao's visit to Romania in 2004. What are the characteristics of this partnership and what progress has been made since then?

"An all-around friendly and cooperative partnership" is the definition of our bilateral relationship. It guarantees the sustained growth of the relationship and the enrichment of the cooperation agenda.

It is "friendly" because we have a relationship established 57 years ago. We have a traditional relationship that was always friendly. There have been no problems between Romania and China ever.