Speaking on Wednesday at a meeting with representatives of the Romanian community in the Czech Republic, President Nicusor Dan said that Romanians living in the country could learn from members of the Romanian diaspora, highlighting associations in the Czech Republic that promote Romanian culture and language.

'It is a great pleasure and honour to be here with you. I have heard good things. I was told that Romanians in the Czech Republic are serious, hardworking people who hold important positions and are a great calling card for Romania. Thank you for that! I have also heard that there are interesting associations that promote Romanian culture and the Romanian language. Perhaps we, those living in Romania, still have something to learn (...) from those who have chosen to live abroad. I understand that the Romanian parish plays a role in bringing the community together. This connection is important, as are this friendship association and this linguistic community, with the Czech language being taught at university in Romania and the Romanian language being taught at university in the Czech Republic, because we belong to the same geographical area and live in an era dominated by economic considerations, in which size matters,' the head of state said.

Dan highlighted the expertise accumulated by members of Romanian communities abroad and called for closer cooperation.

'And the question I ask every time I meet representatives of Romanian communities abroad is: how can we work together? Clearly, you have acquired expertise that we need. In Romanian society, whether here, at home or abroad, there are centres of expertise. The question is how we can bring these energies together and succeed in creating a common direction. In my view, this has been the main dilemma facing Romanians, and not just for the past 37 years. If you have ideas on this issue, our adviser for liaison with Romanians abroad is here. Let us try to organise ourselves somehow. Let us try to encourage professional associations here, in New York, in Iasi, to work together, to build professional networks, to bring together entrepreneurs, managers and doctors, so that we can define those strategies which, to be completely honest, we currently do not have. So if we can cooperate in any way, do not wait for us to make the first move; we are waiting for you to come to us,' the head of the state said.

President Dan is paying an official visit to Prague at the invitation of his Czech counterpart. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Anamaria Constantin; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)