The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) organized a major Bulgarian–Chinese Business Forum within the framework of the Eighteenth Session of the Bulgarian–Chinese Intergovernmental Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, held this week in Sofia.
The event was co-hosted with the Ministry of Economy and Industry of Bulgaria and the Embassy of China in Sofia, bringing together representatives of leading companies from both countries to foster the closer economic relations and explore new joint initiatives. More than 85 Bulgarian and 35 Chinese companies participated in the forum.
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Petar Dilov, opened the event, emphasizing that Bulgaria and China enjoy a strong trade partnership. The Bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly USD 4 billion in 2024, with about USD 2 billion already recorded in the first half of this year alone — a clear indication of the dynamic development of our economic relations. “There is significant interest from businesses in new joint projects that will help unlock this potential,” Minister Dilov noted.
Discussions at the forum highlighted opportunities for investment in high-potential sectors such as the green technologies, energy efficiency, tourism, logistics, and transport connectivity.
The President of BCCI, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, also welcomed the large audience of business representatives from China and Bulgaria. He stressed that China is a key partner for BCCI. The two countries share a long history of trade and economic relations, with this year marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations.
“Thanks to our excellent cooperation with the Embassy of China in Sofia, we are organizing, for the fourth consecutive year, training programs in China for the team of BCCI, industry organizations, regional chambers, and partners. This year’s training will take place in early November in Beijing and Fuzhou, with a special focus on the sectors logistics and transport,” noted Simeonov.
Bulgaria and China must continue to expand their trade relations, which have been growing steadily over the past year and must be further sustained. Bulgarian exports to the Chinese market also need to be expanded, as they hold significant potential. This was underlined by China’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Lin Ji, during the forum.
He outlined two key directions for strengthening the bilateral cooperation: first, supporting Bulgarian companies’ participation in trade fairs in China, and second, enhancing investment partnerships. He emphasized that Bulgaria’s stable economic foundations make it an attractive destination for foreign investment and added that Bulgaria’s upcoming accession to the Eurozone in January 2026 will further enhance security for Chinese investors.
Against the backdrop of global tensions, China and Europe should be friends, not rivals — partners in cooperation, not confrontation. This was the message delivered by H.E. Dai Qingli, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sofia.
The Ambassador noted that this regular session of the Bulgarian–Chinese Intergovernmental Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation, held after a five-year break, is an important step for advancing practical economic cooperation. He further explained that the Chinese government is currently focused on deepening reforms, promoting modernization, and strengthening cooperation with EU countries.
Agricultural and food cooperation between Bulgaria and China has been expanding actively in recent years, with Bulgaria emerging as a leader among Central and Eastern European countries in exports of agricultural and food products to the Chinese market. This was highlighted during the forum by the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Food, Dr. Lozana Vasileva.
“In 2023, trade in agricultural and food products between Bulgaria and China reached a record value of USD 604 million, with Bulgarian agricultural exports to China doubling year-on-year to USD 517 million,” Vasileva said.
She added that in 2022 and 2023, Bulgaria ranked first among the Central and Eastern European countries in exports of agricultural and food products to China. Due to recent global market volatility, Bulgaria ranks second for 2024.
Bulgaria’s membership in the Schengen Area and the Eurozone could position the country as a gateway for Chinese companies to the European market. This was the view expressed by Fan Dunqiu, Board Member and Secretary-General of the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, at the forum in Sofia.
According to Fan Dunqiu, Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and the upcoming adoption of the euro will boost logistics efficiency and facilitate the trade. “This will not only further expand bilateral trade but also provide Chinese companies with a platform to connect with the entire European market, using Bulgaria as a regional hub,” he said.
Fan Dunqiu emphasized that Bulgaria enjoys unique market advantages and broad prospects for economic cooperation.
The business discussions focused on a wide range of sectors, including photovoltaic systems and energy storage solutions, finance, electric vehicle production, supply of EV components, agricultural product procurement, e-commerce platforms, logistics, and the manufacture of household and electrical appliances.