INTERVIEWS

Xinhua: Bulgarian president wants to open new doors to China

SOFIA, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev told Xinhua in a recent interview that he wanted his forthcoming visit to China to open new doors between the two countries and expand bilateral cooperation.

Plevneliev's visit will be held from Jan. 12 to 15 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

"My visit is aimed at opening as many doors as possible to enhance the excellent Bulgarian-Chinese relations," Plevneliev said.

His visit would be to establish a new level of trust between China and Bulgaria, with an outstretched arm and an attitude of friendship and mutual understanding, Plevneliev said.

Agreements will be signed in the field of transportation cooperation and on the opening of new cultural centers in Beijing and Sofia respectively.

"We hope there will be many other agreements between the Bulgarian and Chinese academies of sciences and those based on pragmatic business fundamentals," he said.

Plevneliev said he would go to China with a business delegation, many of whom already did business with China. Two business forums will also be held during his visit.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski and Chairman of the National Assembly Mihail Mikov recently visited China, hailing all Chinese investments in Bulgaria and the region.

Plevneliev said he was proud of the first successful Chinese projects in his country such as the Great Wall Motors' auto assembly plant and the construction of a network for a Bulgarian telecom operator done by Huawei.

"Many other Chinese companies invest in agriculture, in energy, in renewable energy sources, and we welcome and enjoy also the ambitious program of construction companies from China to participate in infrastructure projects in Bulgaria and the region,"Plevneliev said.

Business turnover between the two countries increased by over 20 percent in 2012. In 2013, Plevneliev expected record growth.

"This dynamic is very positive. For Bulgaria, China is the most important strategic partner in Asia. China is also our largest economic partner. We want to develop, enlarge and multiply the results already achieved,"Plevneliev said.

"In this respect, we see many potential cooperation in the field of agriculture and food production, where Bulgaria is ready to provide industrial zones and agricultural land for food production,"he said.

Plevneliev said bilateral ties could be further enhanced if China considered using Bulgaria's strategic location as an opportunity to position itself in the European Union in a broader context.

"We are ready to grant concession of our ports at the Danube River and the Black Sea. We are ready to grant highways, tunnels and bridges, and hydropower complexes that will be built between Bulgaria and Romania by our Chinese partners,"Plevneliev said.

"We understand that we have an important mission, and it is the following: step by step, in the right direction which is deepening and expanding cooperation,"the president said.

Plevneliev welcomed the recent China reforms that he believed would lead to greater prosperity, more equity and better statehood in China.

According to Plevneliev, Bulgaria could sell in China its traditional products such as yogurt, wine, and rose oil.

He also saw tourism opportunities for Bulgaria as Chinese citizens travel more internationally.

According to Plevneliev, Bulgaria was the second country that recognized the People's Republic of China 65 years ago."From this point of view, the task of politicians is even more serious because something that has been built upon for generations is gaining new horizons and dimensions,"he said.