China News Service, Beijing, October 19. On October 19, local time, Bulgarian President Jotova met with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, in Sofia.
Jotova asked Wang Yi to convey his sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping, expressing that Bulgaria and China have long-term friendship and Bulgaria is the second country to recognize the New China. Bulgaria and China established a strategic partnership in 2019, and exchanges between the two countries have continued to develop on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Bulgaria admires China's world-renowned achievements in various fields such as artificial intelligence, technological innovation, environmental protection and improvement of people's living standards. Bulgaria will continue to pursue the one-China policy. Last October, I went to China to attend the Global Women's Summit and reached broad consensus with China on the next stage of cooperation. Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit is a good opportunity to deepen Bulgaria-China relations, which will help to close communication and coordination and promote future cooperation. The two sides are stepping up plans for high-level exchanges next year and look forward to taking bilateral relations to a new level. The Baoxin government has a strong will to accelerate cooperation with China and has received widespread support from the public. Bulgaria looks forward to opening direct flights with China as soon as possible, deepening economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and promoting personnel exchanges and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Bulgaria hopes to expand cooperation in agriculture, science and technology, education, new energy and other fields. Bulgaria agrees with China on the political settlement of conflicts, hopes that China will continue to play an important role in maintaining world peace, and is willing to strengthen coordination with China in this regard.
Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to Jotova, and expressed his appreciation to Madam President, as an old friend of China, for her personal efforts in promoting the development of bilateral relations and promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges and friendly exchanges between peoples. Bulgaria was one of the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. The two countries have a solid political foundation and growing mutual trust. Although we have different histories, cultures and systems, we understand, appreciate, respect and support each other, which has promoted the stable and healthy development of bilateral relations and brought benefits to the people of the two countries. China respects the maintenance of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, supports Bulgaria's accelerated development and revitalization, and is happy to see Bulgaria play an important role on the international stage. It is hoped that Bulgaria will continue to understand and support China's legitimate stance of safeguarding core interests and build a solid political foundation for bilateral relations.
Wang Yi said that China-Bulgaria cooperation has a foundation and needs, as well as prospects and potential. The Bulgarian government has demonstrated its ambition to accelerate relations with China, and China is ready to strengthen communication and expand cooperation with Bulgaria to help each other accelerate development and revitalization. State-to-state relations are fundamentally people-to-people exchanges. The two sides should enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and people-to-people bonds, consolidate the public opinion and social foundation of bilateral relations, and provide greater impetus for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. The world today is full of chaos, and peace and development are facing unprecedented challenges. China is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with Bulgaria, bridge differences through dialogue, overcome estrangements through trust, overcome challenges through action, jointly practice multilateralism, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
During the visit, Wang Yi also met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Radev and Deputy Prime Minister Pulev, held talks with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petrova and jointly met with reporters. (over)
