Official Visit to Bulgaria by a Delegation from Sichuan Province, China, Led by Vice Governor Dong Weimimg

An official delegation from Sichuan Province, China, led by Vice Governor Dong Weimimg, paid a visit to Bulgaria. The delegation included representatives of key economic and foreign policy institutions of the province.

The main objective of the visit was to deepen the bilateral economic cooperation between Bulgaria and China, and to present opportunities for investments and joint projects.

The President of BCCI, Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, participated in the Conference on Economic and Trade Cooperation between Bulgaria and China, held on the occasion of the visit to Sofia. He held talks with representatives of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Sichuan, regarding the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between BCCI and the Council in the spring of 2024.

The meeting saw active involvement from the Ministry of Economy and Industry, the Bulgarian Investment Agency, representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, as well as numerous representatives from government institutions, public organizations, and businesses.

At the conference’s opening, Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Doncho Barbalov stated that bilateral trade between the two countries reached nearly USD 4 billion in 2024. “We are reviewing the development of bilateral trade and economic relations in the context of Bulgaria’s full EU and Schengen membership, and the fact that China (Sichuan) is a key partner for both the EU and Bulgaria,” Barbalov added.

He emphasized Bulgaria’s goal of attracting Chinese investments in sectors where the country holds traditional advantages, as well as in high value-added and innovation-driven industries that boost economic competitiveness.

Mila Nenova, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, presented the incentive measures and benefits offered by Bulgaria to foreign investors, highlighting the sectors with the highest potential for cooperation with China.

The Commercial and Economic Section (CES) in Shanghai noted that China remains one of Bulgaria’s leading non-EU trading partners. The most promising sectors for Bulgarian exports include the food industry, agriculture, essential oils, cosmetics, wine, and mineral water.

The visit of the Sichuan delegation marks an important step in strengthening economic partnerships between Bulgaria and China and lays the groundwork for future initiatives.