BUCHAREST, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Romania Xu Jian was decorated on Friday by Romanian President Traian Basescu with the National Order for Merit in rank of Grand Cross, on the occasion of the Chinese official's ending his diplomatic mission in Romania.

"It is a pleasure for me to offer you this Order, although this is also an occasion of regret, as we are officially saying good-bye today," Basescu said at the decorating ceremony held in the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.

Basescu underscored the Chinese ambassador's exceptional contribution to consolidating the bilateral relation between Romania and the People's Republic of China, highlighting the efficient organization by Xu of the visit the Chinese President paid to Romania in 2004 and also his own visit paid to China in 2006.