site.btaBulgarian President, Japan's Parliament Speaker Discuss Bilateral Scientific, Technological Cooperation

President Rumen Radev and Japan’s House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga Monday discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as innovation, information technology, science and education, the President's Press Secretariat said.

Fukushiro Nukaga is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan.

Attracting larger Japanese investments, deepening economic cooperation and promoting tourist exchanges were the focus of the talks. The two stressed that active political dialogue at high and top level in recent years has created an important basis for the positive development of bilateral cooperation.

The sides also discussed the possibility of launching a direct air service between Sofia and Tokyo, which will help to further deepen relations between the two countries.

President Radev said Japan is a priority and like-minded partner of Bulgaria in the East Asian region, and the Japanese are friends to the Bulgarians. Radev and Nukaga also discussed the good conditions for investment in Bulgaria, which can afford Japanese businesses access to the rest of the European countries.

Energy, electronic engineering, robotics and the automotive industry, in which Bulgaria has made significant progress in recent years, were also identified as promising fields of cooperation.

Nukaga said Bulgaria is making efforts to establish itself as a regional centre for high technology, and cited the activities of the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT), with which RIKEN, Japan's National Research and Development Agency, is developing joint research.

The President expressed gratitude for Japan's support for Bulgaria's democratic transition, for the establishment of the principles of the market economy and for the strengthening of institutions, culture and education.

Earlier on Monday, Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan and Nukaga noted the stepping up of parliamentary relations between Bulgaria and Japan at a media briefing in the National Assembly. The official visit began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in central Sofia.

This year marks three anniversaries in the relations between the two countries: 115 years since the first official contacts, 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and 65 years since their restoration.