Minister of Agriculture and Food Georgi Tahov met with China’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun in Beijing on Monday. The two ministers noted that there is a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation and broad opportunities for development, based on a pragmatic approach and achieving concrete results.
Minister Tahov еmphasized that the meeting lays the foundation for a more dynamic and sustainable dialogue, oriented towards expanding economic ties, innovations and long-term development in agriculture between Bulgaria and China.
Minister Han Jun expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for being the second country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with China. He noted the importance of existing ties and the need for more active cooperation in the current economic context.
During the meeting, Minister Tahov added that in 2022–2023, Bulgaria occupied a leading position among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the export of agricultural and food products to China. Despite fluctuations in international markets, he expressed confidence that the positive trend in bilateral trade will be maintained by expanding the assortment and trade channels.
Minister Han Jun pointed out that with the rise in the living standards of the Chinese population, the demand for quality food and raw materials is increasing. In this context, China is showing increased interest in the import of products such as rapeseed, sunflower, soybeans and beef. Traditional Bulgarian products such as rose butter and yogurt, which are well received by Chinese consumers, are also of particular interest.
The Chinese Minister extended an invitation to Bulgaria to participate as an honorary guest in the Third International Smart Agriculture Expo, which will be held at the end of 2025.
The meeting confirmed the joint commitment to intensifying cooperation within the framework of the China - Central and Eastern Europe format, including through support for technological projects and investments in the processing industry in Bulgaria.
This is the first bilateral meeting between Bulgarian and Chinese agricultural ministers in the last decade.