Chisinau - President Borut Pahor met his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu and PM Natalia Gavrilita as part of his official visit to Moldova on Friday. He expressed support for the president's and the government's reform efforts, his office said in a statement after the two presidents held a news conference in Chisinau.

"There are very many challenges ahead, but Slovenia has always stood by Moldova's side and this is how it will also be in the future," Pahor told the press.

The Slovenian president expressed satisfaction that Sandu's election had led to a revival of political dialogue between Slovenia and Moldova.

The presidents shared a view that the countries should not overlook opportunities to enhance cooperation.

They assessed that today's visit had deepened bilateral cooperation and that there was still a lot of potential to enhance the relations, especially in green and digital transition projects.

Pahor and Sandu also discussed EU-Moldovan relations, with Pahor noting that an Eastern Partnership summit will be held during Slovenia's EU presidency.

He said that European prospects of these countries and faster EU enlargement to Western Balkan countries was key to peace and security.

The situation in the independence-seeking Trans-Dniester region was also on the agenda. Pahor welcomed positive developments there and Sandu and the government's efforts to build trust and resolve the situation.

Pahor met Sandu for a tete-a-tete, which was followed by a meeting of the two delegations. Pahor is accompanied by Foreign Ministry State Secretary Stanislav Raščan and State Secretary Peter Geršak from the Government Office for Digital Transformation.

The president is also due to meet parliamentary Speaker Igor Grosu to discuss bilateral cooperation, the situation in Moldova and its neighbourhood.

Pahor and Sandu will meet a group of young people to discuss their expectations about the future, and plant each one tree at the Botanical Gardens in Chisinau as a reminder of today's visit.

Pahor will complete the first official visit by a Slovenian president to Moldova after 2002 with a formal dinner.