Former Prime Minister Adrian Năstase clarified that he attended the event in Beijing as a private individual, not as a representative of Romania, after being photographed with leaders such as Putin and Xi Jinping.

Adrian Năstase reacted to the criticism that arose after he was spotted in photographs alongside Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un, explaining that he participated as a former dignitary and did not wish to represent the current political leadership. He emphasized that his influence in China does not allow him to decide who is invited to the commemoration event of China's victory in World War II. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Oana Ţoiu, stated that Romania cannot be represented by politicians who are close to Putin, emphasizing the distancing from his practices.