CPC Senior Official Stresses Sino-Bulgarian Relations

China is ready to make concerted efforts along with Bulgaria in the new century to further bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields including politics, economics, culture, science and technology.

Wei Jianxing, Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau and member of Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), made the remark here Monday in a meeting with a delegation from the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

Wei expressed a welcome to the delegation, headed by Georgi Parvanov, chairman of the Highest Committee of the BSP, and said that the friendly exchanges between the two peoples boast a long history and a firm foundation.

Since the two countries forged diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, said Wei, bilateral friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields have witnessed sustained development.

Although the world situation has experienced drastic changes after the Cold War, the two countries have understood and supported each other in a series of major international issues, and reached a great deal of consensus, said Wei.

He noted that the CPC and the Chinese government treasure Sino- Bulgarian relations and appreciate the principled "one China" policy followed by all Bulgarian parties.

On party-to-party relations, Wei said that the CPC's friendly contacts with foreign parties, an important component of China's diplomacy, are aimed at securing a peaceful international environment for China's modernization drive, and contribute to the common task of safeguarding world peace and promoting human progress.

To strengthen contacts between the CPC and Bulgarian parties and promote the further development of bilateral traditional relations in the new century is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also conducive to world peace, development and stability, Wei pointed out.

He also briefed the delegation on China's current domestic situation.

Parvanov said that Bulgaria and China enjoy a traditional friendship and cooperation, and there have been continuous friendly exchanges between the two governments and parliaments in various areas.

The delegation's current visit to China is another manifestation of the traditional and developing bilateral friendship, added Parvanov.

Although there are many political parties in Bulgaria, noted Parvanov, they pursue identical policies on the development of relations with China.

Bulgaria appreciates China's reform and opening policy, and admires China's achievements in its modernization drive, adding that Bulgaria will, as always, stick to a "one China" position.

The BSP will enhance friendly exchanges with the CPC in various fields, such as the party's self-perfection and the development of a market economy, so as to further bilateral friendly relations in all areas such as politics, economics and culture, he pointed out.

(People's Daily 04/23/2001)