XIA Xiaoxi, Counsellor at the Secretariat of China-CEEC Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, visited the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In a conversation with the President Tsvetan Simeonov, she presented the main goals of her visit to Sofia - exchange of policies and views, practical progress on the China-CEEC Cooperation.
XIA Xiaoxi stated that despite the stagnation in the world economy and the global Covid-19 crisis, in the period 2017-2021 trade between China and Bulgaria doubled and reached USD 4.5 billion. In the first seven months of 2022 an increase of 12% was observed. The wish of the Chinese partners is that with the support of BCCI, more Chinese companies will invest in the Bulgarian economy. Potential sectors are infrastructural facilities such as roads, railway infrastructure, export of high-quality agricultural products for the Chinese market.
The Chinese government has budgeted USD 170 billion for the next five years for the import of goods in line with the cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. A 50% increase of exports of agricultural goods from the Central and Eastern European countries to China is planned. Over the past 10 years, trade between China and the CEE countries has grown and reached USD 136 billion. Tourist exchange for the same period has quadrupled thanks to the cooperation mechanism.
Tsvetan Simeonov, for his part, said that China is an important partner for Bulgaria. Business circles in the country welcome Chinese investments in infrastructural projects and other sectors important to the economy. Industrial parks in the country represent a good form for future cooperation.
BCCI is ready to assist in future visits of Chinese business delegations to Bulgaria and finding suitable partners. The Chinese diplomat was provided with information materials prepared by BCCI. The general view was expressed to activate information exchange regarding upcoming exhibitions and fairs in both countries in order to intensify the economic ties.