SOFIA - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Monday that the trust and friendly relations between Bulgaria and China provide favorable conditions for expanding their economic partnership.

Radev made the remarks at a meeting with Chinese Vice-Commerce Minister Ling Ji and a business delegation exploring investment opportunities in Bulgaria.

"China is an extremely important economic partner for Bulgaria, whose technological progress we are observing with interest," Radev said, highlighting potential cooperation in high technology, artificial intelligence, and high-value investments.

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He pointed to Bulgaria's strategic location, low operating costs, favorable tax policies, and growing strengths in artificial intelligence (AI), information technology (IT), and the automotive sector. "The opportunities are huge," he added, stressing Bulgaria's role as a production and logistics hub on the shortest route to Europe.

Radev also noted rising trade through the Bulgarian-Turkish border and emphasized the importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor for boosting China-Europe connectivity.

Ling said closer business ties would naturally bring the two peoples closer, adding: "Our strategic cooperation will go as far as our economic partnership deepens."