Chisinau and Bucharest strengthen cultural ties as Minister Cristian Jardan marks first official visit
The Republic of Moldova is set to adopt Romanian best practices in digitizing cultural heritage and modernizing institutional infrastructure.
The strategy was finalized on Thursday, February 12, during Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan’s first official external visit to Bucharest, where he met with his Romanian counterpart, Demeter András István.
Digital and structural priorities
Minister Jardan emphasized that a core priority for Chisinau is leveraging Romania’s advanced experience in digitizing both movable and built heritage.
The collaboration also focuses on the structural rehabilitation and energy efficiency of buildings housing cultural institutions. The goal is to implement proven solutions that ensure the protection of heritage sites while maintaining modern functionality and sustainability.
Strategic cultural integration
The Minister described his choice of Bucharest for his first official trip as a symbolic gesture, reflecting the profound and strategic ties between the two nations.
"We have agreed to continue all successful projects developed in recent years and to strengthen the organic cooperation between cultural institutions on both banks of the Prut," Jardan stated.
European funding and cinematic cooperation
Discussions also covered expanding partnerships in cinematography, museum management, and the "culture of memory."
A key focus remains Moldova’s participation in the Creative Europe programme, which the country officially joined on January 1. This framework is expected to provide significant professional and financial opportunities for Moldovan artists and cultural managers.
A sustained partnership
Romania remains Moldova’s primary supporter in the cultural sector. This support is channeled through the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova (DRRM) and the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR).
Ongoing initiatives include book donations, the Romanian Traditions Festival, and cross-border projects funded via the Interreg NEXT Romania-Republic of Moldova programme, all contributing to a unified cultural space.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
