site.btaCooperation in Field of Agriculture and Food with China Constantly Expands - Minister Tahov

Bulgaria is a leader in agricultural exports to China among the Central and Eastern European countries, said caretaker Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov at a meeting here with Du Jiahao, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food said on Monday.

Minister Tahov noted that in 2023, the value of agricultural exports has doubled compared to 2022, with the biggest contributors being significantly increased supplies of corn and sunflower. "In 2023, trade in agricultural and food commodities between Bulgaria and China was worth USD 640.6 million, which is nearly 38% above the 2022 level. Around 47% of Bulgaria's total exports to China are agricultural and food commodities. China's imports of agricultural goods declined by 40%, mainly due to lower supplies of inedible fats and rice," Tahov said. 

He pointed out that the traditionally good cooperation between Bulgaria and China in the field of agriculture and food is very active and is constantly expanding. According to him, this is happening on the principles of equal partnership between the two countries. 

In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA), together with the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, have been working intensively to complete the procedures for meeting the requirements for importing a number of Bulgarian agricultural and food products into China. At present, we have initiated 38 such procedures, eleven of which have already been completed with the signing of the relevant protocols and bilateral approval of the relevant certificates," the Minister added. 

During the meeting, Tahov expressed hope that the procedures for the export of Bulgarian wheat and fresh fruit would be approved by China as a priority. China's competent authority is expected to carry out a risk analysis on that. 

For his part, Du Jiahao said that the positive figures recorded by China and Bulgaria in the exchange of agricultural goods show the trust between the two countries, and China will continue to encourage the expansion of investment in Bulgaria.

In June, a Bulgarian-Chinese Business Forum, a China-Bulgaria Forum on Climate Change and Rural Revitalization, and an Annual Symposium of the Joint Laboratory under the One Belt, One Road Initiative were held at the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.