site.btaDeputy PM Nikolova Confers with China's Ambassador in Sofia

January 23 (BTA) - "Bulgaria supports and highly
appreciates the 17+1 Initiative for Cooperation between China
and the Central and East European Countries. We regard it as a
very important mechanism for catalyzing the investment, trade,
economic and cultural contacts between our two countries,"
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic
Policy Mariyana Nikolova told the Ambassador of the People's
Republic of China in Sofia Dong Xiaojun when they conferred here
 on Thursday, the Government Information Service said.

The two discussed the outcomes of the 17th Session that the
Intergovernmental Mixed Commission for Economic Cooperation
between Bulgaria and China held recently in Beijing. "Bulgaria
is interested in sharing in the Belt and Road Initiative through
 the implementation of infrastructure projects in this country,"
 Nikolova stressed. She pointed out that the Bulgarian
Government is encouraging an increase of Chinese direct
investments in state-of-the-art enterprises manufacturing
innovative products, fostering the growth of the green economy
and batteries, electric vehicles and electric buses, the press
release said.

Ambassador Dong stressed China's readiness to work actively for
the implementation of the understandings recorded in the
Protocol of the 17th Session of the Intergovernmental Mixed
Commission. He noted that relations with Bulgaria have always
been a matter of serious interest and hopes that they will be
deepened, the press release pointed out. NV/LG

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