site.btaDeputy Prime Minister Nikolova: Bulgaria-China Trade Cooperation Is Steadily Increasing

January 16 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister for
Economic and Demographic Policy Mariana Nikolova addressed the
participants at the China-Bulgaria Business Forum in Beijing,
the Council of Ministers press centre said on Thursday. The
forum was organized with the support of the Chinese
International Contractors Association and the Bulgarian Small
and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency. A total of 24 Bulgarian
 companies participated in the forum.

"China has become our second largest export partner among
countries outside the European Union. There is an opportunity
for further expansion of Bulgarian exports to China, and in
particular of products with which our country is known in Asia,"
 said the Deputy Prime Minister.

"Trade cooperation between Bulgaria and China is steadily
increasing," continued Nikolova, who headed the Bulgarian
official delegation in Beijing. She pointed out that there are
excellent opportunities for investment in Bulgarian industrial
zones, which offer terrains with already built infrastructure
for Chinese companies wishing to establish their own industries
in Bulgaria.

Deputy Prime Minister Nikolova also stressed the government's
deliberate policy of reducing administrative burdens and
prioritizing the development of science and education.

Nikolova also co-chaired the 17th session of the
Bulgarian-Chinese Intergovernmental Joint Committee on Economic
Cooperation. At the end of the meeting, a bilateral protocol was
 signed to enhance practical cooperation in several areas, such
as trade and economic relations, promotion of investment,
energy, technological innovation, agriculture and tourism. The
document includes a list of 9 projects for the two countries to
work together on in the areas of infrastructure, industry and
commerce. RY/DT