RALEIGH — North Carolina and Moldova have reaffirmed their bilateral partnership with the signing of a renewed five-year agreement, marking the 25th anniversary of their enduring relationship.
Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall, who leads the North Carolina-Moldova Bilateral Committee, signed the agreement in Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, along with Moldova Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popsoi.
“We’re marking the 25th anniversary of this unique and enduring Partnership this year,” Marshall said in a press release. “The North Carolina-Moldova Partnership is recognized by many as the strongest relationship to emerge from the Partnership for Peace, and the people-to-people diplomacy at its heart has never been more important than at this perilous moment in history.”
Moldovan President Maia Sandu honored Marshall with the Order of the Republic for her leadership in the partnership, acknowledging her significant contributions.
Moldova, situated between Ukraine and Romania, has faced challenges exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including hosting a significant number of Ukrainian refugees.
Marshall, who led a delegation from North Carolina to meet with Moldovan leaders and U.S. Ambassador Kent Logsdon, emphasized the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, especially in turbulent times.
This partnership, initially formed through the Partnership for Peace, has evolved into one of the strongest relationships between a U.S. state and a former Soviet Union republic, with the N.C. National Guard maintaining one of the longest-running partnerships with Moldova within the U.S. Department of Defense.
The partnership has facilitated various exchanges, including academic, medical, cultural and agricultural collaborations.
