site.btaDeputy Agriculture Minister Sabev: Bulgaria, China Continue Promotion of Bilateral Agricultural Trade

Bulgaria and China continue to promote bilateral trade in agricultural and food products, caretaker Deputy Agriculture Minister Georgi Sabev said at the International Scientific-Practical Conference titled "10 years of Cooperation, Exchange and Connectivity between China and CEE Countries", his ministry's press office reported here on Friday.

The volume of trade between China and the countries in Central and Eastern Europe has increased by 142.6% in the last decade through the 14+1 cooperation mechanism, Sabev said. "In 2021, it reached USD 136.2 billion, including a 1.5-fold rise in agricultural exports from the CEE countries to China," he added.

"Since its official launch on June 26, 2015, in Sofia, the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and CEE countries has proven to be an important tool for promoting cooperation and trade in agricultural commodities and food in the 14+1 format," Sabev said.

Bulgaria supports, participates actively and cooperates closely with China in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative and cooperation between China and CEE countries, he also stressed.

The Belt and Road Initiative develops policies in the fields of trade, agriculture, investment, and contacts between citizens and local authorities.