Bulgaria will actively participate in the development of the Europe-China strategic partnership after the country joins the European Union (EU) and make substantial contribution to enhancing EU-China dialogues, said Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

Stanishev, who will pay his first official visit to China on Nov. 19-23 after taking office last year, said in a recent written interview with Xinhua that Bulgaria was willing to serve as a bridge via which Chinese businesses could enter Europe.

He spoke highly of the traditional friendship between Bulgaria and China, saying his country regarded China as an important political and economic partner in Asia.

"In recent years, Bulgaria-China relations have maintained a strong momentum of development and entered the phase of an all-around cooperative partnership," said the prime minister.

The upcoming visit, on the eve of Bulgaria's EU accession on Jan. 1, 2007, indicated the two countries' strong desire to deepen political dialogue at all levels and broaden their economic and cultural cooperation, said Stanishev.

He reiterated that Bulgaria would unswervingly adhere to the one-China policy, saying Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government representing China.

Bulgaria will never develop official ties with Taiwan, Stanishev noted.

On China's role in the international arena, he said the foreign policy implemented by the Asian country was aimed at safeguarding peace and security in the region and the world at large.

"China's foreign policy and its role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council have made the country an important stabilizing factor in the Asia-Pacific region," Stanishev said.

He added that the international community highly valued China's contribution to the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, its active participation in dialogues with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other regional organizations, as well as global anti-terrorism efforts, and a series of important affairs.
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"China encourages multilateral cooperation between different civilizations to strengthen security and seek common development, which has also drawn worldwide attention," Stanishev said.

On China's market economy reform, the prime minister said Bulgaria had paid great attention to the process of the reform.

"In my country, China is the synonym of a country witnessing rapid development, which is undergoing a successful transition into high-tech economy," he said.

"The Chinese government's policy of opening up to the outside world, attracting foreign investment, and introducing new technology and advanced management method has played an important role in this aspect," Stanishev said.

China's reform process and its rapid economic development is remarkably intriguing to the international community, including Bulgaria. The deeply impressive strategy exercised by the Chinese government aimed to guarantee a consistent, reasonable and smooth economic development, while emphasizing the balance of regional growth, environment protection and the building of a harmonious society.

He said the EU-China relationship had moved upward dramatically to a stage of all-dimensional strategic partnership.

Thanks to its geographic advantage of being located at the eastern border zone of the EU, Bulgaria will serve as a bridge for Asian partners to enter the European market, the premier said.

As for bilateral trade, he said Chinese investment in Bulgaria had shifted from sectors like trade and restaurants to those of light industry and household appliances. Some major Chinese businesses have taken a foothold in the Bulgarian market and efforts for Bulgarian-Chinese joint ventures are under way.

He noted there was tremendous potential in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, citing the fact that trade with China -- its largest trading partner in Asia -- stood at merely US$780 million in 2005. The figure is expected to reach 1 billion dollars in 2006.

Stanishev assured that Bulgaria would be actively involved in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. He believed that the two events would further upgrade China's image in the world and serve as another testimony of China's strength.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2006)