The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova hosted in Chișinău the meeting of the Bilateral Committee under the Cooperation Partnership between the Republic of Moldova and the State of North Carolina, United States of America. The event was co‑chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi and North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popșoi highlighted the durable and pragmatic nature of the Moldovan‑American partnership, noting its steady development over more than two decades and its clear focus on delivering concrete results for citizens.

“Cooperation with the State of North Carolina directly contributes to the development of essential sectors in the Republic of Moldova, through projects that reach communities and generate tangible impact on institutions and on people’s daily lives. From education and health to agriculture and security, these initiatives address real needs and support our efforts toward modernization and development,” the Moldovan official stated.

For her part, Secretary of State Elaine F. Marshall praised the high level of bilateral relations and reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening and expanding them, emphasizing the importance of institutional and people‑to‑people connections.

“The partnership between North Carolina and the Republic of Moldova is not defined by distance, but by shared values, cooperation, and the desire to create opportunities for citizens. Over the years, this collaboration has contributed to economic development, institutional strengthening, and improved quality of life, demonstrating that consistent engagement can produce lasting results,” the U.S. official underlined.

The meeting reviewed progress in the implementation of joint projects and identified new areas of cooperation for the period ahead. Discussions focused on priority fields such as security and defense, education, agriculture, health, as well as academic, cultural, and humanitarian exchanges.

Several successful initiatives were highlighted, including:
– cooperation between the Technical University of Moldova and North Carolina State University on developing the agricultural extension platform and launching pilot farmer advisory centers;
– health‑sector partnerships between the “Nicolae Testemițanu” State University of Medicine and Pharmacy and institutions in North Carolina in areas such as pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing;
– modernization of university libraries through book and equipment donations;
– academic mobility and professional training programmes;
– cooperation with the North Carolina National Guard, including joint trainings and exercises;
– cultural and educational initiatives, such as contributions to the opening of the new Toy Museum in the village of Floreni, illustrating the human dimension of this partnership.

The Partnership between the Republic of Moldova and the State of North Carolina was launched in 1999 and covers a broad range of areas, from economic and educational cooperation to defense and humanitarian activities. In 2026, the two sides mark 27 years of civil cooperation and 30 years of defense collaboration, milestones that underscore the strength and relevance of this long‑standing relationship.