Bulgaria, Thailand Step Up Bilateral Relations
21 January 2019 News
Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva conferred in Brussels with her Thai counterpart Don Pramudwinai. The first meeting at a level of foreign ministers since 2012 took place on the sidelines of a EU-ASEAN ministerial held in the Belgian capital. Thailand holds the ASEAN chairmanship since January 1, 2019.
Minister Zaharieva and Minister Pramudwinai discussed a wide range of issues within bilateral relations and on the international agenda. The two top diplomats concurred to work to enhance bilateral relations based on the traditional friendship between the two peoples. The first step in this direction will be holding political consultations between the two foreign ministries.
Zaharieva defined areas with potential for business partnerships and among them was hi-tech. Pramudwinai noted that an increase in the number of Bulgarian tourists to Thailand would contribute to the launch of a direct air service.
Stepping up political dialogue will encourage businesses in both countries to use untapped potential for economic cooperation. With its strategic location at the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria is a natural bridge between Europe and Asia. There are excellent opportunities for cooperation in tourism which is one of the fastest growing sectors in Bulgaria. Considering the large number of Bulgarian tourists who visit Thailand every year, the two ministers discussed prospects to reopen the Bulgarian Embassy in Bangkok which was closed eight years ago.
Along with the development of bilateral relations, Bulgaria is ready to help enhance cooperation between the EU and Thailand, said Foreign Minister Zaharieva. We appreciate the efforts for holding parliamentary elections in Thailand in the spring and see this as an important step in ensuring stability and prosperity in that country.
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