Ekaterina Zaharieva Confers with Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Chao
07 June 2018 News
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva received the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China Wang Chao.
Wang Chao is in Sofia in connection with the preparations for the Seventh Summit of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries under the 16 + 1 Initiative, which Bulgaria will host in July.
“China is our foremost partner in Asia, and I am certain that next week’s meeting will produce tangible 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 at large,” Ekaterina Zaharieva told her Chinese guest. She expressed her conviction that the active joint work of the two countries’ various ministries ahead of the forum in July will achieve its goals and, as a result of the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiangbefore the Summit, more Bulgarian goods will reach the Chinese market.
Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva stressed that the Bulgarian Government relies on investors and companies from China for the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects in this country. “I do hope that Chinese investments in Plovdiv Airport will also contribute significantly to raising the awareness of Bulgaria in China and increasing the number of tourists from your country,” she added.
Minister Zaharieva further noted that most of Bulgaria’s transport corridors pass through countries of the 16+1 Initiative and the Silk Road (also known as the One Belt, One Road Initiative) and are important not only for our country and China but for the whole European Union as well. “We want to work for a comprehensive and strategic partnership between the EU and China,” the chief Bulgarian diplomat added.
Vice Minister Wang Chao described yesterday’s meeting of the 16+1 Initiative national coordinators, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a great success. He thanked our country for the efforts that it is making for the arrangements for the July Summit, regardless of its numerous engagements as holder of the EU Council Presidency. “This will be the first visit to Bulgaria by a Chinese Premier in 18 years, and it will undoubtedly contribute to achieving tangible results of mutual interest,” Wang Chao said. He noted his country’s desire to deepen its cultural cooperation and exchange with Bulgaria, because a natural connection based on friendship exists between the two peoples.
Ekaterina Zaharieva extended special gratitude for China’s assistance in the search and rescue operation for Bulgarian mountaineer Boyan Petrov in the Himalayas. “You can be proud of what you did because this mission became known worldwide,” she assured her guest.
Two weeks ago in Buenos Aires, Zaharieva also conferred with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. They discussed arrangements for the 16+1 Summit.
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