India and Romania established diplomatic relations in 1948 and have a long tradition of friendship and cooperation since then. In 2013, both sides issued a Joint Statement establishing the Extensive Partnership between them.
To mark the 75th anniversary of the bilateral relations and the 10th anniversary of the Extensive Partnership, India and Romania, hereby, express the following understanding:
recognize that the increasingly close bilateral ties have developed during the past decades and a strong historical bond, mutual understanding, profound respect and deep people-to-people connections have been built and unite the two countries.
stress that the international order based on the rule of law is under pressure.
acknowledge the growing challenges confronting humankind, generating a complex international context, with intensified geopolitical competition.
express commitment to continue to uphold and strengthen the rules based international order with the United Nations at its core.
reconfirm their strong adherence to the purpose and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and other universally recognized norms under international law.
express support for shared fundamental values, norms, principles of freedom, democracy, global peace and respect for human rights.
restate the validity of the Joint Statement on establishing an Extensive Partnership between India and Romania, signed in March 2013, and the active efforts of both countries for its implementation.
acknowledge the need to further develop our cooperation in a concrete manner, enabling both countries to better respond to common challenges and to avail themselves of emerging opportunities, both bilaterally and internationally.
Both sides
express their determination to complement the current Extensive Partnership and to explore new avenues of cooperation to the benefit of the two countries. This commitment will be a legacy for the generations to come, in accordance with the current regional and global realities and with the updated priorities of the two countries.
Bilateral Cooperation
Enhanced Foreign Affairs Cooperation
Both sides
decide to enhance their political cooperation, with regular high-level meetings and periodic consultations between the Ministries of Foreign/External Affairs. This will ensure the proper follow-up of our political and sectoral commitments.
encourage an intensified dialogue in the field of defence, including defence industry, countering asymmetrical threats, military medicine, military history, science, technology and research.
agree for an early establishment and conduct of the Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation.
Promoting enhanced economic cooperation
Both sides reaffirm their determination to consolidate and focus bilateral economic and commercial relations, in the coming years, in three main areas of high potential: Energy, Information Technology and Communication (IT&C), Manufacturing Industry.
Energy
Both sides
pledge to increase energy security and achieve the SDGs and the objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement.
express the importance of increasing the share of clean sources in the energy mix.
commit to cooperate on net-zero and safe, sustainable and affordable low-carbon energy technologies and projects, on clean and renewable energies, including, but not limited to solar and wind energy, biomass energy and green hydrogen to support the efforts towards the energy efficiency of both countries. On solar energy in particular, Romania reiterates the importance of cooperation under the International Solar Alliance framework. Romania signed the Framework Agreement of ISA in December 2023.
will take forward their cooperation in the field of emerging industries, including but not limited to green hydrogen and energy storage related to energy and clean resources, technology transfer and co-development, improving the investment environment, on mutually agreed terms and in line with each country’s national priorities and needs.
will promote joint research, development, and deployment of net-zero energy technologies and encourage knowledge exchange amongst experts, scientists and engineers in the field of clean energy, with an aim to foster collaboration in renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy transition and sustainable development.
agree to make use of the existing opportunities to further explore the cooperation in the areas of oil and gas industry, biofuels, electricity and green hydrogen and to foster partnerships and joint ventures between the two sides.
recognize the need to buttress the paradigm of strengthening energy security while achieving a just and organized energy transition and in this context agree inter-alia to explore and discuss opportunities for collaboration in the biofuels sector. Towards this end, the Indian side updated the Romanian side about the launch of Global Biofuels Alliance (GBA) on 9th September 2023 as a chair’s initiative of India’s G-20 presidency and also extended an invitation to Romania to join the alliance as a member country. Both sides agree to engage and take forward these discussions.
agree that Nodal Ministries of the two countries, i.e. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (India) and Ministry of Energy (Romania) shall develop action plans, set specific targets and monitor the implementation of cooperation activities in the identified areas.
Information Technology and Communication (Digital technologies cooperation)
Both sides
affirm to create a robust ecosystem that fosters innovation, economic growth, and technical expertise in the digital technology sector for the benefit of both nations.
will pursue an enhanced bilateral cooperation through exchange of best practices, policies and regulation in the digital technology sector, especially emerging technologies, including cyber security, connectivity between start-ups and Digital Public Infrastructure, research and innovation, fight against disinformation and new and emerging threats.
Manufacturing industry
Both sides
agree to scale up the bilateral cooperation by identifying proper means to promote and consolidate their economic exchanges and investment in manufacturing sector, trade and export of machinery and equipment.
agree to promote the bilateral trade and encourage flows of investment and services.
Multilateral cooperation
Both sides
underline the importance of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific, built on a rules-based international order.
express deep concern over the war in Ukraine and its tragic humanitarian consequences.
underscore the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law, and consistent with the principles of the UN Charter.
underscore the growing impact of this war on the global economic system and food security, with consequences predominantly affecting developing and least developed countries.
reaffirm their support for the reform of the United Nations, in order to make the Organization more effective, action oriented and adapted to the new global realities.
remain committed to a comprehensive United Nations reform agenda, including through expansion of permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the United Nations Security Council, to strengthen the United Nations functions, in the spirit of multilateralism, openness, and transparency, and with respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms.
appreciate Romania’s support to India’s aspiration for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council to reflect contemporary realities.
emphasise the need for stronger cooperation between the United Nations Member States towards addressing pressing global challenges, such as climate change, deforestation and loss of biodiversity; protection of oceans and seas, and pandemics.
reaffirm the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the international law, in particular the provisions on the settlement of disputes included in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
note the importance of enhancing the EU-India cooperation, in all its aspects. Romania actively supports the cooperation frameworks at EU level.
Terrorism
Both sides
reiterate that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and agree to strengthen cooperation in international fora in combating terrorism.
consistent with the resolutions of the United Nations on the fight against terrorism, support a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, including countering violent extremism, misuse of social media, cyber space and the internet by terrorists, preventing radicalization, preventing the movement of terrorists including foreign terrorist fighters, combating the financing of terrorism, and facilitating the investigation and prosecution of terrorists.
call upon all countries to strive towards taking action against terrorist networks, their safe havens, and internationally designated entities and individuals.
reiterate the urgent need for all countries to take immediate, sustained, verifiable and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks.
Both sides further agree to enhance cooperation in other areas of common interest mentioned in the Joint Statement of 2013, on Establishing Extensive Partnership between India and Romania.
New Delhi
February 23, 2024