The Croatian president and his host and other senior Moldavian officials will discuss the promotion of overall bilateral relations and regional and global issues of mutual interest. The two sides will also sign two agreements, on customs duties and on the avoidance of double taxation.
This will be the third meeting of the two presidents. Mesic visited the Moldavian capital of Kishinev in December 2001, and Voronin, whom the Moldavian parliament in April this year again appointed president with a term of four years, visited Croatia in August 2002.
In his inaugural speech, the Communist Voronin said he would continue efforts to bring his country closer to the European Union. The Communists have been in power in Moldavia, which declared independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, since 2001, thanks to their pro-Western policy and distancing from Russia's influence. Moldavia is the first Soviet republic to elect a Communist president.
Relations between Croatia and Moldavia are good and the two countries have no outstanding issues. Moldavia recognised Croatia on May 25, 1992, and the two countries established diplomatic relations on July 20 the same year.
The two countries signed a free trade agreement in 2004. Croatia is interested in exporting to Moldavia machines and equipment for the food-processing industry, pharmaceutical products, and consumer goods, while Moldavia is interested in exporting tobacco, wine, herbs and juices.