Premier Li Keqiang attends a welcome ceremony held by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov before their talks in Sofia, Bulgaria, July 6, 2018.

　　Visiting Premier Li Keqiang called on his country and Bulgaria to seek greater synergy in development and elevate bilateral ties to a new level on July 6.

　　In his talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Premier Li said the two countries’ complementary advantages and mutual needs in economic development provide broad prospects for bilateral practical cooperation.

　　China and Bulgaria, he suggested, should strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and in such fields as road and railway, infrastructure, nuclear energy and industrial park construction.

　　The Premier also called for expanding bilateral trade and investment and promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

　　“The Chinese government encourages competitive Chinese companies to invest and start business in Bulgaria,” Premier Li said, urging Bulgaria to provide them with preferential policies and a good business environment.

　　On deepening agricultural cooperation, the Premier said China is willing to import more Bulgarian specialty agricultural products that meet Chinese market needs.

　　The two sides, he added, should also strengthen cooperation in agricultural product cultivation and processing, agricultural science and technology, and breeding.

　　Premier Li also called for concerted efforts to make a success of the demonstration park on agricultural cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

　　Borissov said that based on Bulgaria’s location advantage and development needs, Bulgaria is willing to draw support from China’s advanced technology and experience in infrastructure construction and cement bilateral cooperation in building roads, ports and airports.

　　Multiple cooperation documents in such areas as economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture, quality inspection and finance were inked after the talks.

　　A joint communique between the two governments were also released on July 6, in which Bulgaria expressed support for the Belt and Road Initiative and closer China-Europe connectivity.

　　According to the joint communique, the two sides will encourage their enterprises to reinforce cooperation in infrastructure construction, agriculture, tourism, new technologies, innovation and renewable energy.

　　The two governments also agreed to work to upgrade the scale and level of bilateral trade, and pledged joint efforts to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard the multilateral trading system.