The 15th Session of the Bulgarian- Chinese Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation has been successfully completed
Photo by Bulgarian Ministry of Economy and Energy
“I hope the successful 15th session of the Bulgarian-Chinese intergovernmental joint commission for economic cooperation will contribute to even better development of trade and economic relations between our two countries”, that said Krasin Dimitrov, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy and a Head of the Bulgarian delegation at the meeting in Beijing and proposed his Chinese counterparts to hold the next session of the commission in 2015 in Bulgaria.
From the Chinese side the meeting was headed by Zhang Xiagchen, Deputy Minister of Commerce.
Bulgarian state considered the session of the Joint Commission of a great importance since it has been a significant instrument for the development of economic relations between Bulgaria and China. The meeting was held within a period of strong intensification of mutual contacts and visits between the two countries. The consolidated political dialogue proved the priority, which Bulgaria has rendered to its connections with China and the common will to strengthen the bilateral ties as a result of a number of official meetings at the highest level between the two countries in recent months. The interest of both countries was confirmed at these meetings and the willingness to work actively for the intensification of bilateral trade and economic cooperation was expressed as well. The 15th session of the Commission aimed to give real standards and to fill the outlined framework and interests of bilateral partnership with content.
“We also attach great importance to the initiatives to develop the cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe as a very good basis for expanding bilateral cooperation with the Chinese side in areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure and transport, energy, tourism. We are grateful for the active policies and practical activities that Chinese government is taking to encourage Chinese companies to expand their presence in the region and in particular in Bulgaria”, said Deputy Minister Krasin Dimitrov and expressed readiness to discuss at the session the participation of Chinese companies in implementing particular projects in Bulgaria. Among them, he outlined the foreign economic policy of the government aimed at expanding the trade and industrial relations with China, both bilaterally and as a member of the European Union and a country of Central and Eastern Europe.
For Bulgaria China is a primary strategic partner in Asia. The country is now ranked second after Turkey among the export destinations outside the European Union. In 2013, the trade between Bulgaria and China reached USD 1.884 billion, marking an increase of 8.4 % compared to 2012. Thus, the desire of our country is to have more tangible presence in the Chinese market with our traditional Bulgarian products well-known on the markets in Asia, in particular Bulgarian wines, mineral water, essential oils, especially rose oil; as well as to increase our mutual cooperation in terms of mechanical engineering, electronics and electrical engineering. In this respect, we will be happy to assist the Chinese side to enhance the opportunity to support the participation of Bulgarian companies in trade fairs and exhibitions in China”, said Deputy Minister Krasin Dimitrov.
During the meeting it was clearly stated the readiness of Bulgarian side to attract Chinese partners to establish a joint venture in Bulgaria for the manufacture and assembly of carriages and locomotives of any kind, as the production of such company would be marketed not only in Bulgaria but also in the neighboring countries and the European Union. The possibility to construct and rehabilitate the high-speed rail line Kulata – Lom as a significant European transport corridor was emphasized. Chinese companies can partner with Bulgarian companies and invest in Bulgaria for the manufacture of Chinese compact multipurpose tractors. At the meeting were also presented the possibilities for cooperation between Bulgaria and China in major strategic energy projects, where Chinese companies could invest, namely: the construction of gas interconnections Greece - Bulgaria and Turkey - Bulgaria; projects for construction of new thermal – gas power plants; Hydropower complexes (HEC) along the Danube; project for the reconstruction of the railway line Russe - Varna; development of air transport by initiating direct air line between Bulgaria and China; the construction of the "Black Sea" and "Hemus" highways and tunnel crossing under "Petrokhan."
As for the agriculture, which is traditionally well-developed sector of the relations between Bulgaria and China, the readiness of Bulgaria to be a host of "Forum for cooperation in agriculture between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe" in 2014 was confirmed, as well as the opportunities to finalize as soon as possible the procedures for certification of imports into China of Bulgarian agricultural and food products such as meal, dairy and meat products, and signing of the protocols.
Readiness and interest to participate in projects in the energy and construction of major infrastructure projects on the Bulgarian territory were expressed by the Chinese side.