site.btaPM Borissov and Ambassador Zhang Discuss "16+1" CEEC-China Meeting

Sofia, May 24 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Haizhou discussed an upcoming meeting of leaders of Central and Eastern European countries and China, which will be held in Sofia at the beginning of June, the government information service reported on Thursday. Borissov said he looks forward to the "16+1" summit which will consider concrete projects.

Economy Minister Emil Karanikolov will visit China to prepare memorandums and agreements for the leaders' meeting in Sofia.

Borissov thanked Ambassador Zhang for his timely cooperation in organizing a search and rescue operation for Bulgarian mountaineer Boyan Petrov in the Himalayas. Borissov said his government appreciates the efforts of the Chinese authorities, who organized the large-scale search by air and by land.

Petrov was last seen on May 3 while attempting to reach the summit of Shishapangma (8,027 m), the 14th highest mountain in the world. The search for him proved unsuccessful and was discontinued on May 16. On the following day, Prime Minister Borissov sent letters to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, thanking them for their cooperation.