NEWS

In the context of commemorating the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the People’s Republic of China, the two countries are establishing relations of a comprehensive friendly partnership and cooperation and will pool efforts for raising them to a new, higher level. This is what is said in a joint official statement released after the talks between President Rosen Plevneliev and Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, were held. The Bulgarian President, who is the first president to visit the People’s Republic of China in 2014, was welcomed by the Chinese Head of State at an official ceremony in Beijing.

 

The basic aim of the established new stage in the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and China is to raise the level of bilateral cooperation in all sectors. The two countries point out that their relationships are steadily developing, their mutual political trust is strengthening and their cooperation in the sectors of economy, trade, investments, agriculture, culture and education is defined as fruitful.

 

Bulgaria and China have taken on the commitment to pool efforts to expand the trade on a balanced basis.  The two countries will also work to secure the necessary institutional basis and will seek new forms of cooperation in agriculture, “which has the potential to become a new important trend in the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries,” the statement says.

 

The Bulgarian and Chinese side will pool efforts to develop their specific advantages for expanding the partnership on projects related to building high-speed highways, tunnels, bridges, as well as expanding airports, modernizing harbors, railroads and other infrastructure and energy projects.  Support was also voiced for cooperation between Bulgarian and Chinese companies in the spheres of energy, new technologies, innovations, renewable energy sources.

 

Support for expanding the cultural, educational and scientific exchange was also voiced immediately after the meeting between President Rosen Plevneliev and President Xi Jinping was held.  It includes discussing the opening on a reciprocal basis of cultural centers in Bulgaria and China. The two countries will encourage the exchange of students and various other forms of exchange which promote cooperation in education.

 

The two presidents also highly estimate the success achieved in the cooperation between China and the Central and East European Countries within the framework of China’s Initiative for Cooperation with this region. Bulgaria confirmed its willingness to host the meeting of the government leaders of the 16+1 Initiative as well as its readiness to establish on its territory the Association for Cooperation under the Initiative.

 

President Rosen Plevneliev and President Xi Jinping attended the signing of an Agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the People’s Republic of China on sea transport, a Memorandum on Understanding between the two countries’ Ministries of Culture on the mutual establishment of cultural centers, and a Written Statement on the phytosanitary requirements for the export of lucerne from Bulgaria to China between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China. Rosen Plevneliev and Xi Jinping also attended the signing of Memorandum on Cooperation between the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria and the China Council For the Promotion of International Trade.

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping accepted the invitation that President Rosen Plevneliev addressed to him to visit Bulgaria, it further became clear after the meeting in Beijing.

 

President Rosen Plevneliev will continue to hold official talks on 14 January, when the Head of State will hold meetings with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

 

The President will open a Chinese-Bulgarian business forum in the Chinese capital which will be attended by more than 30 representatives of the Bulgarian business environment. He will also visit the Bulgarian office of the “China Radio International” , which is marking 40 years since it was established. 

The active participation of the Bulgarian defence industry will strengthen the capabilities of the EU and NATO, said Iliana Iotova at a meeting with the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich

Statement by Head of State Iliana Iotova

For projects aimed at improving connectivity between Bulgaria and Turkiye must be viewed as a whole, to be successful, and within the context of closer cooperation in Southeastern Europe. This will bolster both economic development and security in the region, whose strategic importance is growing. This was stated by President Iliana Iotova at a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who is on a formal visit to Bulgaria.

Albulena Haxhiu expressed her gratitude to President Iotova for Bulgaria’s support on Kosovo’s path toward membership in NATO and the European Union.