January 23 (BTA) – “Bulgaria supports and highly appreciates the 17+1 Initiative for Cooperation between China and the Central and East European Countries. We regard it as a very important mechanism for catalyzing the investment, trade, economic and cultural contacts between our two countries,” Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Demographic Policy Mariyana Nikolova told the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Sofia Dong Xiaojun when they conferred here on Thursday, the Government Information Service said. The two discussed the outcomes of the 17th Session that the Intergovernmental Mixed Commission for Economic Cooperation between Bulgaria and China held recently in Beijing. “Bulgaria is interested in sharing in the Belt and Road Initiative through the implementation of infrastructure projects in this country,” Nikolova stressed. She pointed out that the Bulgarian Government is encouraging an increase of Chinese direct investments in state-of-the-art enterprises manufacturing innovative products, fostering the growth of the green economy and batteries, electric vehicles and electric buses, the press release said. Ambassador Dong stressed China’s readiness to work actively for the implementation of the understandings recorded in the Protocol of the 17th Session of the Intergovernmental Mixed Commission. He noted that relations with Bulgaria have always been a matter of serious interest and hopes that they will be deepened, the press release pointed out. NV/LG //
(DF) Deputy PM Nikolova Confers with China’s Ambassador in Sofia
