site.btaBulgaria, Thailand to Step Up Bilateral Relations

January 23 (BTA) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and
 Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva conferred in Brussels with
 her Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai on Tuesday.

The first meeting at a level of foreign ministers since 2012
took place on the sidelines of a EU-ASEAN Ministerial. Thailand
holds the ASEAN chairmanship since January 2019.

The two discussed a wide range of issues within bilateral
relations and on the international agenda. The two top diplomats
 concurred to work to advance bilateral relations based on the
traditional friendship between the two peoples. The first step
will be to hold political consultations between the two foreign
ministers.

Zaharieva outlined areas with potential for business
partnerships, while Pramudwinai noted that an increase in the
number of Bulgarian tourists to Thailand may contribute to the
launch of a direct flight service.

Stepping up political dialogue will encourage businesses in both
 countries to tap unfulfilled potential for economic
cooperation.  There are excellent opportunities for cooperation
in tourism which is one of the fastest growing sectors in
Bulgaria. In view of the large number of Bulgarian tourists to
Thailand, the two ministers discussed prospects to reopen the
Bulgarian Embassy in Bangkok which was closed eight years ago.

Zaharieva said that Bulgaria was ready to assist with furthering
 EU-Thailand relations. RY/PP