Rumiana Bachvarova

Editor's Note:

Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Rumiana Bachvarova (Bachvarova)wrapped up her visit to China on Tuesday evening. What is her view over the development of Sino-Bulgarian ties? How is the concept of 16+1 (16 Central and Eastern European Countries and China) being received in Central and Eastern European countries? And in what specific ways can Beijing and Sofia cooperate on anti-terror efforts? Bachvarova shared her view with the Global Times (GT) on these issues.

GT: China and Bulgaria established a comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership in 2014. In your view, how has the bilateral relationship developed in the past year?

Bachvarova: 2015 was a very dynamic year, both with regard to our bilateral relations and in the context of the 16+1 Initiative. We continued the trend towards enhancing political dialogue and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. The Bulgarian Minister of Tourism, as well as the Deputy Ministers of Economy and of Agriculture paid visits to China. We also had visits to Bulgaria by two Chinese ministers - the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of culture, as well as the general prosecutor of the People's Republic of China, delegations of the Shanghai Municipal People`s Congress and Shanghai CPPCC Committee, and 10 delegations of representatives of the Chinese local authorities and businesses.

The most important event was Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's visit to Suzhou this past November, where he participated in the 4th Meeting of the Heads of Government of China and the Central and Eastern Europe countries. The Bulgarian delegation had more than 100 members, including a deputy prime minister, six ministers, members of parliament, businessmen and journalists.

In 2015 Bulgaria continued its active participation in the 16+1 Initiative. The Association for Cooperation in Agriculture between China and the CEE countries was established in Sofia in June, and it has already made its first successful steps. In November Sofia hosted the second Ministerial Forum on Cultural Cooperation in the 16+1 format.

This intense exchange clearly demonstrates that China is a partner of primary importance in Asia and that the Bulgarian Government is putting significant efforts for further development of our relations with China. Our aim is to maintain the positive dynamics and to fill the comprehensive friendly partnership and cooperation with specific substance, in compliance with the new realities. China is one of our biggest export partners not only in Asia, but on a global scale. The bilateral trade exchange amounts to $1.8 billion, and our hope is that it will exceed $2 billion this year.

GT: Leaders from 16 Central and Eastern European countries and China held a summit in Suzhou, China in November. How is the concept of 16+1 being received in Central and Eastern European countries?

Bachvarova: The meeting in Suzhou was very productive and well organised. The high level of representation demonstrated the common will to enhance the cooperation within the 16+1 format. The first adopted Mid-term Agenda for Cooperation 2015 - 2020 is a sign that the initiative is progressing to a new phase. This was also proven by the enlargement of the number of the associations and the contact mechanisms in the different areas of cooperation.

Bulgaria supports and takes an active part in the 16+1 Initiative. We consider it an important platform for enhancement and further development of the bilateral relations with China. And as an EU member-state, Bulgaria considers the Initiative as an efficient and beneficial supplement to EU-China relations. We highly appreciate the active position and the practical steps being taken by the Chinese government to promote their business potential in CEE countries. Our task now is to define mutually beneficial business models for the successful implementation of joint projects.

GT: China is promoting the One Belt, One Road initiative, and Central and Easter European countries are important partners. How can this platform provide opportunities for national development for both Bulgaria and China?

Bachvarova: An important result from the visit of the Bulgarian Prime Minister to China was the signing of the bilateral Memorandum on Jointly Promoting the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, with which Bulgaria formally joined the participating states in the One Belt, One Road Initiative. This memorandum creates the general framework of the future bilateral cooperation in this direction.

Bulgaria is ready to play an active role in the development of the transport corridors along the New Silk Road. If you pay attention to our geostrategic position, you will see clearly that many important corridors of the One Belt, One Road Initiative and the 16+1 Initiative will go through Bulgaria. Improving the connectivity between Europe and Asia provides new possibilities to develop beneficial cooperation, while fostering mutual understanding and trust.

GT: Terrorism is a challenge to many countries including Bulgaria and China. In which way, can China and Bulgaria cooperate on each other's anti-terror efforts?

Bachvarova: Bulgaria supports efforts to counteract all forms of terrorism and extremism. We consider the UN as the most important international organisation that has the necessary capacity and expertise to unite these efforts. We are part of the international coalition against the "Islamic State". It is obvious that this is a threat to all of us and we need consolidated and coordinated actions.

 The international cooperation between partners from different continents helps to multiply the efforts. The efficient exchange of information is also of key importance. We have constant political consultations within the EU, with our neighbours, with the US and other partners, in order to establish efficient partnership. We are faced with global challenges that require global solutions.

GT: Chinese people have particular feelings about to former socialist countries, including Bulgaria. How does that factor into the Sino-Bulgarian relationship?

Bachvarova: For more than six decades already the bilateral cooperation is subject to continuous enhancement and development on the basis of mutual understanding and respect. Currently Bulgaria and China enjoy excellent relations, free of ideological prejudice, in the spirit of friendship and good intentions. There are no open issues. This constitutes a solid basis for further enhancement of the bilateral partnership. Our aim is to strengthen the pragmatic, results-oriented cooperation in areas such as commerce, agriculture, transport, machine building and information technologies. We would appreciate having more Chinese investments and welcoming more Chinese tourists in Bulgaria.

At the same time we continue to work for the enhancement of contacts in the areas of culture, education, science and innovations, exchange of people. During the past years the number of Bulgarian and Chinese students in the universities of the two countries has grown. I would like to note the significant role of the Confucius Institute in promoting Chinese language and culture in Bulgaria. In November 2014 Bulgaria and China signed an Agreement on Mutual Establishment of Cultural Centres which creates conditions for a large-scale and comprehensive mutual presentation of the rich cultural and historical heritage and traditions of both countries.

I hope that we will continue together our efforts to further strengthen the bilateral relations, while enhancing mutual trust and understanding and fostering practical cooperation to the benefit of the people of both countries.