Romania is honored to have the United Kingdom as a strategic partner, ally and reliable friend, declared President Nicusor Dan on Thursday, at the reception for King's Birthday.

'Together, we can bring a plus to the prosperity and resilience of our societies, to promote the values we share and to the security of Europe,' said the Romanian head of state.

He extended condolences after the tragic plane crash in India on June 12, in which numerous people lost their lives, including British citizens.

Nicusor Dan evoked the historical ties, the prominent political and cultural personalities from both states who have worked together over time.

'Queen Mary of Romania, born as a princess into the British royal family, is, for example, an emblematic and much-loved personality of our history, who shaped the destiny of modern Romania, unwaveringly supporting its interests. Also, in our recent history, Romania has benefited from the sustained support of Great Britain, a reliable ally on the European and Euro-Atlantic path,' said the president.

At the same time, Nicusor Dan paid tribute to the British sovereign and his connection with Romania.

'His Majesty King Charles III won the hearts of Romanians through the deep affection shown for Romania, through the enthusiastic interest in our cultural heritage, for patrimony and for protecting the environment and ecosystems. His Majesty's openness and concern for the lives of the inhabitants of the areas he visited left a deep impression on Romanians. His numerous visits to Romania not only aroused Romanians' interest in the British Royal House, but also made an invaluable contribution to promoting Romania as a tourist destination,' he said.

The President stated that Romania and the United Kingdom share democratic values and a similar vision regarding peace and security at a global level.

'This is why I look with confidence both at the present of bilateral relations and at their future. And here I would like to thank you, Ambassador Portman, for your tireless involvement in supporting the development of Romanian-British cooperation, which I can say is very close and with remarkable results,' he said.

At the same time, the head of state recalled that over 1.3 million Romanians live in the United Kingdom.

'They make an important contribution to British social, economic and cultural life, but also to the development of collaboration between our countries, creating lasting bridges of connection between our countries. This is why, as President, I place a special value on the interpersonal component of our relations,' said Nicusor Dan.

The President emphasized collaboration in the field of security and defense.

'I particularly appreciate the commitment of Great Britain through an important contribution to Romania's security, and therefore implicitly to the security of the region and to the consolidation of the deterrence and defense posture on NATO's Eastern Flank. As allies, our countries share the firm commitment to support Ukraine in the face of the Russian Federation's war of aggression. Our cooperation has become all the stronger as Great Britain has emerged among the leaders of the joint efforts to support Ukraine', he pointed out.

The President referred to the phenomenon of disinformation.

'We are pursuing efficient action in the dimension of strategic communication, combating disinformation and foreign interference in democratic processes. State institutions and societies, as a whole, must be prepared to effectively counter such phenomena in order to maintain the integrity of our democratic systems. Without unity at the level of Western states, the necessary solidarity cannot truly be mobilized. It is essential that states like the Republic of Moldova, exposed to Russian pressure and interference, feel the solidarity of European democracies', the president pointed out. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)