“Bulgaria would like to be a gate for Chinese investments and production in the EU, but meanwhile wants to be an active member of the union with a contribution for the good relations between EU and China.” The words of Bulgarian President Rossen Plevneliev could summarize the meaning of his recent official visit to China. The high-level visit came days after Bulgarian Minister of Economy Dragomir Stoinev told the press that Bulgaria would open trade offices in Asia. According to the minister, export in the future would go to countries with high level of economic growth, while statistics show that Bulgarian export towards Asian countries has risen by 5 percent. Analysts add that Bulgarian products cannot easily find a niche on the European market.

The Bulgarian President met General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping. A joint statement after the discussions read that relations of friendly partnership between the two countries have been developing together with mutual political trust in the spheres of economy, investments, agriculture, and education. Bulgaria and China will be working for increasing trade which is expected to double in the next 5 years, it was also announced.

Some of the planned projects include a joint one between Bulgaria, Romania and China for the construction of a bridge and a hydroelectric power station on the Danube. Another project is the construction of the Black Sea Highway. China may also take part in the project for a tunnel under the Shipka mountain pass. Bulgaria may also offer to China concessions of Black Sea and Danube ports.

During the official visit a Bulgarian-Chinese business forum took place in Beijing. More than 150 Chinese and some 30 Bulgarian companies working in the spheres of energy, technologies, transport and others took part in the forum. President Plevneliev pointed out the positive trends in the bilateral economic relations. Bulgarian export to China doubled in 2012 in comparison to 2011. The Bulgarian President added that 21 new industrial and hi-tech zones will be opened in Bulgaria and China could use them for its enterprises. The Bozhurishte zone near Sofia and the cargo airport in Stara Zagora are strategic ones, President Plevneliev added.

A curios fact has been observed recently in this country. There is a growing interest towards learning Chinese language, official statistics show. The number of Bulgarian students who study Chinese language has increased fourfold in the past 2 years.

English version: Alexander Markov