(ANSA) - SOFIA, OCTOBER 20 - Economic partnership and investment cooperation between Bulgaria and China featured high on the agenda of a meeting Saturday between President Rumen Radev and Cao Jianming, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress. According to Bta press agency, the two agreed that there is much potential to promote bilateral economic relations, and that the two countries need to take steps in the near future in order to fulfill that potential, the President press secretariat reported.

Cao is in Sofia for the Fourth 16+1 Local Leaders' Meeting of the Central and East European Countries and China. He and Radev also discussed the establishment of a Global Centre for Cooperation in Sofia which will examine EU law and evaluate the risks for Chinese investment projects in the EU, in cooperation with the countries of the 16+1 initiative. President Radev's idea to set up such a centre, which he put forward during his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Sofia in July, is appreciated by the Chinese government, Cao said, adding that further consultations will be held on the project.

Radev said Bulgaria offers the best conditions for investment in Southeastern Europe and urged China to invest more in science, education, information technology and agriculture projects in Bulgaria.

Cao said that China appreciates Bulgaria's efforts to develop bilateral relations. He added that substantial results have been achieved in trade, investment and agriculture, with two-way commodity exchange growing by 30 per cent last year. (ANSA).