Relationship dossier
People's Republic of China
Romania
Relationship assessment
A formal partnership framework coexists with Romanian security-policy friction over Chinese technology and nuclear cooperation.
People's Republic of China toward Romania
+15China and Romania established a comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership in 2013, providing a formal framework for bilateral cooperation. The scope and implementation of cooperation under that framework are unclear.
Romania toward People's Republic of China
-10Romania ended cooperation with China General Nuclear Power Corporation on the Cernavoda nuclear project in 2020. Romania also adopted legislation governing 5G supplier approvals after a 2019 memorandum with the United States, creating a point of friction in relations with China.
Overall relationship
0The relationship combines a formal comprehensive partnership framework with concrete disagreements over Chinese participation in Romanian nuclear infrastructure and 5G networks. Romania’s EU and US security alignment shapes policy toward Chinese firms, limiting the practical reach of the bilateral partnership.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
China and Romania established a comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership in 2013, building on earlier bilateral ties. Relations also include significant friction over Romania’s security policy toward Chinese technology firms and its decision to end cooperation with a Chinese company on the Cernavoda nuclear project. The partnership framework remains a feature of the relationship, alongside Romania’s closer alignment with EU and US security policies.
Areas of tension
- Romania ended cooperation with China General Nuclear Power Corporation on the Cernavoda nuclear project in 2020.
- Romania’s 5G supplier approval framework, adopted after a 2019 memorandum with the United States, has constrained Chinese technology firms.
Key developments
China and Romania established a comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership.
Romania signed a memorandum with the United States on 5G security.
Romania ended cooperation with China General Nuclear Power Corporation on the Cernavoda nuclear project.
Major uncertainties
- The scope and practical implementation of bilateral cooperation under the 2013 partnership framework are unclear.
- The extent of current government-to-government cooperation beyond the nuclear and technology disputes is uncertain.