Bulgarian Ambassador to China Andrey Tehov Photo: Dong Feng/GT

Bulgarian Ambassador to China Andrey Tehov told the Global Times in a recent interview that thanks to China's policy of opening up wider to the world, more Bulgarians have come to China after its expansion of its visa-free policy to countries including Bulgaria in November 2024. 

The "Report on the Work of the Government" was recently released during China's two sessions, an annual major political event. The report stated that the government will "further deepen reform comprehensively and expand high-standard opening-up."

The ambassador urged the opening of flights between Sofia and Chinese cities to strengthen business and tourism links.

"I expect more direct flights between the two countries, and I hope that the cultural and people-to-people exchanges will be further enhanced through more air links," the ambassador said.

In 2024, China offered unilateral visa waivers to more countries and extended visa-free transit stays to 240 hours, thus bringing about a sustained surge in inbound tourism. 

As a result, Bulgarian tourist numbers have increased along with many other visitors eager to explore China. 

With Bulgaria being the second country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, the ambassador said that "now we have almost 76 years of diplomatic ties and our friendship has withstood the test of time."

In technical and skill exchanges, Ambassador Tehov emphasized the success of the Luban Workshop in Plovdiv, a Bulgaria-China agricultural education cooperation program between the Agricultural University of Plovdiv, Bulgaria and the Tianjin Agricultural University. 

The Bulgarian Luban Workship aims to promote the construction of the agricultural cooperation demonstration zone between China and Central and Eastern European countries at a high level, and to strengthen international cooperation between China and Bulgaria under the Belt and Road Initiative.

He also looks forward to more cultural cooperation in fields such as music and art. 

He mentioned a Bulgarian symphony orchestra's planned performance in Beijing on January 1, which he hopes will become an annual tradition. 

China is Bulgaria's second-largest trading partner outside the European Union. 

Despite the long distance between the two countries (more than 12,000 kilometers), the ambassador believes that direct flights and visa-free travel would further boost trade relations. 

The ambassador told the Global Times that he is confident that the business communities in both countries are eager to explore new opportunities, and that these travel-related facilitation would have a positive impact on bilateral trade.

"It's much easier to simply take a plane and arrive without a visa, I think this will enhance business. There is interest in our business community in developing trade relations with China and exploring new opportunities, which I'm certain do exist. I think such facilitation of travel will definitely have a positive impact on our trade relations," the ambassador said.