Speaker of Parliament Tsveta Karayancheva and Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chen Yuan have discussed developing and deepening Bulgaria-China relations in infrastructure, science, technology, culture and tourism. Chen Yuan is leading a delegation of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference visiting Bulgaria.

There is a great potential for developing the relations between Bulgaria and China and it should be utilised, said Tsveta Karayancheva at the meeting. For Bulgaria, your country is a partner of prime importance in Asia, she said and added that there was unused potential for cooperation in infrastructure, science, technology, culture and tourism. She explained that efforts were being made to simplify the procedure for granting visas to Chinese citizens who wished to visit Bulgaria as tourists.

We support and actively participate in the “One Belt One Road” and “16+1” initiatives for cooperation between China and CEE countries, said the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament, and explained that Bulgaria would be pleased to host the “16+1” meeting next year. Tsveta Karayancheva said that one of the goals of the forthcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU was to shift the attention of the member states to this part of Europe.

Developing cooperation with CEE countries is a priority for China, emphasised Vice-Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chen Yuan. We count on Bulgaria and expect its support for this and for a more successful cooperation between China and the EU, he said.

China wishes to have a more active bilateral dialogue with Bulgaria in the area of economy, culture, education and science, as it is in the interests of the two friendly nations, said Chen Yuan. He emphasised that China appreciated the efforts that Bulgaria had made to make things easier for Chinese tourists who wished to visit our country.