NEWS

Possibilities for fostering bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and Japan in areas of mutual interest such as innovation, information technology, science and education, and other areas were discussed at a meeting in Sofia by the Head of State Rumen Radev and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament, Fukushiro Nukaga. The guest and the delegation led by him are on a formal visit to this country.

 

Attracting more Japanese investment, deepening economic cooperation and promoting tourism exchange were the focus of the conversation between Radev and Nukaga. The two emphasised that the active political dialogue at a high and highest level in recent years has created an important basis for the positive development of bilateral cooperation. Japan is a priority and like-minded partner of Bulgaria in the East Asian region, and the Japanese people are friendly to the Bulgarians, the president pointed out, noting the potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries. The two also discussed the good conditions for investments in this country, which Japanese business can benefit from with access to other European countries.

 

Energy, electronics, robotics and the automotive industry were also identified as promising areas, in which Bulgaria has seen significant development in recent years. Nukaga said that Bulgaria is making efforts to establish itself as a regional centre for high technologies, and an example of this is the activity of the Institute for Research in the Field of Artificial Intelligence (INSAIT), with which the Japanese national research agency RIKEN develops joint research activities. During the meeting, the possibility of opening a direct flight line Sofia-Tokyo was also discussed, which will contribute to further deepening of bilateral relations.

 

President Radev expressed gratitude for the support of the Japanese side in Bulgaria's democratic transition, for establishing the principles of the market economy and for strengthening institutions, culture and education.

In his speech, the president pointed out that Bulgaria highly values its relations with Iraq, which is an important partner in the Middle East region

Taking advantage of their geostrategic position, Bulgaria and Georgia have the potential to deepen their connectivity in various areas such as transport, energy, and the digital sector, which will contribute to promoting the economy, investment, and prosperity in the Black Sea region. This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.

The two were unanimous that restoring peace in Europe through diplomacy is a priority for the EU and the only way to ensure the long-term security and stability of the Old Continent.

The President recalls that the institution of the Special Commercial Administrator (SCA) was introduced by an Act adopted in 2023, which also established a number of safeguards against potential abuse and arbitrariness — safeguards of the kind already adopted in other European states faced with similar circumstances, with the objective of minimising the risk of subsequent financial claims against the State