site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva Confers with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Chao

Sofia, June 7 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva received here on Wednesday Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Chao, Zaharieva's Ministry reported.

Wang Chao is in Sofia in connection to the preparations for the upcoming meeting of leaders of Central and Eastern European countries and China in the 16+1 format, which will be hosted by Bulgaria this July.

Zaharieva described China as a primary partner of Bulgaria in Asia, expressing her belief that next month's meeting will lead to concrete and practical results. "I believe that your Premier's visit to Sofia will give an impetus to our bilateral cooperation in sectors such as trade, agriculture and the economy overall," Bulgaria's top diplomat told her Chinese guest.

Zaharieva noted that the Bulgarian Government relies on investors and companies from China for the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects in Bulgaria. She voiced hope that Chinese investments in Plovdiv Airport will contribute substantially for improving the awareness of Bulgaria in China and increasing the number of tourists from the Asian country.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister has also noted that a large part of Bulgaria transport corridors pass through countries from the 16+1 Initiative and the Silk Road, also known as the One Belt, One Road Initiative, and are of importance not only for this country and China, but for the whole European Union. She expressed Bulgaria's desire to work for the comprehensive and strategic EU-China partnership.

Vice Minister Wang Chao described the Tuesday meeting between the 16+1 Initiative's national coordinators, held at the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, as very successful. He thanked for Bulgaria's efforts for organizing the summit in July, when a Chinese Premier will visit this country for the first time in 18 years. There is no doubt that the high-level visit will contribute to achieving concrete results of mutual interest, the Chinese diplomat noted. He said that China wishes to deepen its cultural cooperation and exchange with Bulgaria, because a natural friendship-based connection exists between the two peoples.

Zaharieva has extended special gratitude for China's efforts in the search for Bulgarian mountaineer Boyan Petrov in the Himalayas.

Two weeks ago, Zaharieva conferred with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Buenos Aires, where the two were attending a G20 Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers, the Foreign Ministry recalled.