Filat welcomed them to Chisinau and voiced hope that the visit would be an opportunity for them to make a good impression about Moldova, the government's press service has said.

The prime minister advocated fruitful cooperation between the government and media outlets, noting that the cabinet had taken actions to make sure that the press can act as the fourth state power.

"We want that Moldovan citizens are informed accurately and swiftly as this is a condition for the democratic development of our country," Filat said.

Vlad Filat noted that MOLDPRES had significantly contributed to covering important events taking place in Moldova.

He also talked about the changes launched by the government , which are aimed at transforming Moldova into a truly democratic European state based on the rule of law.

"We have managed to stabilize the economy and secure a 4.7-per-cent economic growth in the first three months of 2010. We made big progress in terms of restoring our relations with the neighbouring countries and of getting closer to the EU, given that European integration is our top goal," Filat said.

The prime minister said that the political agenda would be extremely busy in the months to come, when Moldova would hold a referendum on the mechanism for electing the president, as well as parliamentary and presidential elections. Filat voiced hope that these events would not affect the governing process.

"We have well-delimited goals and a clear vision of what we have to do and where we have to drive Moldova to. We act firmly in order to meet our goals," Filat said.

The heads of news agencies asked the prime minister about Moldova's relations with Russia, Ukraine, Romania and China, the European integration process, the Transnistrian issue, the investment attraction process, etc.

MOLDPRES