I. Bilateral Political Relations

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on October 4, 1949. The important political exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic relations are as follows:

1954

In September, the Chinese Government Delegation headed by Dong Biwu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice premier of the State Council, paid an official visit to Bulgaria and attended the celebrations of the tenth National Day of Bulgaria. In the same month, the Bulgarian Government Delegation headed by Damyanov, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) and vice chairman of the Council of Ministers, came to China to participate in the celebrations of the fifth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and to pay a friendly visit.

1956

In September, the Bulgarian Communist Party Delegation led by Anton Yugov, a member of the Political Bureau of the BCP Central Committee and chairman of the Council of Ministers, came to China to attend the Eighth National Congress of the C.P.C.

1957

In January, the National People's Congress (NPC) Delegation and the Beijing People's Congress Delegation headed by Peng Zhen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, paid a goodwill visit to Bulgaria. In September, Anton Yugov, a member of the Political Bureau of the BCP Central Committee and chairman of the Council of Ministers, led a government delegation to pay an official visit to China. Chairman Mao Zedong, Vice Chairman Zhu De and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Liu Shaoqi met with Anton Yugov separately, and Premier Zhou Enlai held talks with him and signed the joint communiqué of the two Governments.

1958

In May, the Chinese Communist Party Delegation led by Dong Biwu, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice president of the State, attended the Seventh Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party. In September, Chervenkov, Member of the Political Bureau of the BCP Central Committee and vice chairman of the Council of Ministers, led the National Assembly Delegation to pay a goodwill visit to China.

1959

In May, the Chinese Military Delegation headed by Peng Dehuai, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice premier of the State Council and defense minister, paid a goodwill visit to Bulgaria. Todor Zhivkov, first secretary of the BCP Central Committee, and Anton Yugov, chairman of the Council of Ministers, and other Bulgarian Party and State leaders met separately with the delegation. In September, the Bulgarian Party and Government Delegation led by D. Ganev, a member of the Political Bureau of the BCP Central Committee and Chairman of the National Assembly came to China to participate in the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and to pay a friendly visit. Liu Shaoqi and Zhu De met separately with the delegation.

1984

In June, Vice Foreign Minister Qian Qichen visited Bulgaria to make preparations for the political meeting at a higher level between the two countries. In the same month, Chen Muhua, state councilor and minister of foreign economic relations and trade, paid a visit to Bulgaria to hold talks with Bulgarian Foreign Trade Minister Christov and signed the inter-government agreement on economic and scientific cooperation between the two countries and the protocol on establishment of the Sino-Bulgarian Committee of Economic, Trade and Scientific and Technological Cooperation. In November, Electronic Industry Minister Jiang Zemin led the electronic industry delegation on a visit of Bulgaria. He held talks with Bulgarian Machine Building Industry Minister Doynov and signed a summary of the talks. The vice chairman of the Council of Ministers A. Lukanov met with Jiang Zemin and his party, and witnessed the signing ceremony.

1985

In May, Bulgarian Machine Building Industry Minister Doynov (a member of the Political Bureau and the secretary of the BCP Central Committee) led a delegation to visit China and unveil the Bulgarian Machine Building Industry Exhibition held in Beijing. He held talks with Minister Jiang Zemin and signed a summary of the talks. Acting Premier Wan Li met with the visiting minister and his party. In November, Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman S. Todorov led a parliamentary delegation to visit China. NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Chen Peixian presided over the talks. General Secretary Hu Yaobang, N.P.C. Standing Committee Chairman Peng Zhen, Vice Premier Li Peng and Vice President Ulanfu met separately with the delegation. In December, Vice Premier Li Peng visited Bulgaria and held talks with A. Lukanov , vice chairman of the Council of Ministers. In the capacity of both the Party's general secretary and president of the State Council, Todor Zhivkov met and entertained Vice Premier Li Peng and his party.

1986

In September, the National People's Congress Delegation headed by NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Liao Hansheng visited Bulgaria. Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman S. Todorov presided over the talks with the delegation. In his meeting with Vice Chairman Liao Hansheng, Todor Zhivkov, general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and president of the State Council, expressed explicitly the hope for restoration of relations between the two Parties. In October, A. Lukanov , first vice chairman of the Council of Ministers paid a visit to China, which was a return visit for the Premier Li Peng's to Bulgaria. President Li Xiannian met with him, and delegated by Premier Zhao Ziyang, Vice Premeir Yao Yilin also met with him.

1987

In February, the deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee Li Shuzheng visited Bulgaria. The visit marked the normalization of relations between the two Parties. In March, State Councilor and Foreign Minster Wu Xueqian visited Bulgaria and held talks with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petar Mladenov. The general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and president of the State Council Todor Zhivkov met and entertained the Chinese Foreign Minister. In May, at the invitation of Zhao Ziyang, acting general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and President Li Xiannian, the general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and president of the State Council Todor Zhivkov paid an official goodwill visit to China. President Li Xiannian held the welcoming ceremony and the banquet in his honor. Premier Zhao Ziyang held talks with him, and Deng Xiaoping and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Peng Zhen met with him separately. On behalf of their respective Governments, Zhao Ziyang and Todor Zhivkov signed the agreement on the basic orientation of the long-term cooperation in economy and science and technology between the two countries. During the visit, the two sides also signed the Sino-Bulgarian consular treaty, the government agreement on cultural cooperation between the two countries, the Sino-Bulgarian agreement on scientific and technological cooperation for the period of 1987-1990, the program of cooperation between the Science and Technology Commissions of the two countries, and other documents. In June, Acting General Secretary and Premier Zhao Ziyang paid an official goodwill visit to Bulgaria, the first visit ever made by the highest leader of the Chinese Party and Government in the history of relations between the two countries. Todor Zhivkov, general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and president of the State Council, and Premier Zhao Ziyang had formal talks as well as talks alone. During the visit, four talks were held between the counterparts of the two countries on foreign affairs, foreign trade, party relations and structural reform, and the two sides signed the Sino-Bulgarian agreement on radio and television cooperation and the Sino-Bulgarian agreement on mutual exemption of visas and facilitation of mutual visits by the citizens of the two countries. In September, the vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Enmao visited Bulgaria, establishing contacts between the C.P.P.C.C. and the Fatherland Front of Bulgaria.

1988

In May, Kubadinsky,Member of the Political Bureau of the BCP Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Fatherland Front, paid a return visit to China. CPPCC Chairman Li Xiannian and Hu Qili, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met with him separately. In the same month, the state councilor and minister in charge of the State Science and Technology Commission Song Jian visited Bulgaria. Todor Zhivkov, general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and President of the State Council, Georgi Atanasov, chairman of the Council of Ministers, and three members of the Political Bureau of the BPC Central Committee met with him separately. The two sides signed a protocol of cooperation. And the Chinese Communist Party Delegation headed by Li Ximing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Party Secretary of Beijing, visited Bulgaria and met with Todor Zhivkov, general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and president of the State Council. In August, Filipov, a member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the BCP Central Committee visited China. Li Ximing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, met and entertained him and his party.

1989

In September, General Guo Linxiang, deputy director of the General Political Department of the People Liberation Army (PLA), went to Bulgaria as the head of the military visiting group of friendship, and the visit initiated the contacts between the two armed forces. In November, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Petar Mladenov paid an official friendly visit to China for the first time in past forty years. General Secretary Jiang Zemin and Premier Li Peng met with him separately. At the end of November, the Chinese Communist Party Delegation led by Qiao Shi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, visited Bulgaria. The newly elected general secretary of the BCP Central Committee and ex-foreign minister Petar Mladenov met with the delegation.

1991

In March, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen visited Bulgaria and held talks with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Volkov . Bulgarian President Zheliu Zhelev and National Assembly Chairman Todorov met with him separately.

1993

In June, the Bulgarian Government Delegation led by Neitcho Neev, the Bulgrian deputy prime minister and minister of transportation, visited China. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Qiao Shi met with the delegation and Vice Premier Qian Qichen presided over the talks. The two sides signed the Air Transport Agreement Between the Chinese and Bulgarian Governments. In November, Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Aleksander Jordanov visited China. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Qiao Shi and Vice President Rong Yiren met with him separately, and NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Wang Guangying presided over the talks.

1995

In April, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen visited Bulgaria. Bularian President Zheliu Zhelev, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov and National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov met with him separately. During the visit, the two sides signed the agreement on criminal judicial cooperation between the two countries, the protocol on cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries and the 1995-1997 program of cultural, scientific and educational exchanges between the Governments of the two countries. In October, NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Li Peiyao visited Bulgaria.

1996

In May, Bulgarian Prime Minister Zhan Videnov visited China. Premier Li Peng presided over the talks and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Qiao Shi and Vice President Rong Yiren met with him separately. During the visit, the two sides signed the Extradition Treaty Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Bulgaria, the Cooperation Agreement Between the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria, the 1996-1999 Educational Cooperation Agreement Between the State Education Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation Between the National Committee of the Natural Sciences Foundation of China and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Agreement on Patent Cooperation Between the Patent Office of the People's Republic of China and the Patent Administration of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Protocol of the Seventh Meeting of the Sub-Committee of Scientific and Technological Cooperation Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Bulgaria. At the end of the visit, the two sides issued a joint communiqué. In July, Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov visited China. NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Wang Guangying presided over the talks and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Qiao Shi and Vice President Rong Yiren met with him separately. In October, Bulgarian Defense Minister D. Pavlov visited China. Premier Li Peng and Chief of General Staff Fu Quanyou met with him separately, and Defense Minister Chi Haotian presided over the talks. In November, Vice Premier Li Lanqing led a government delegation on a visit of Bulgaria. Bulgarian President Zheliu Zhelev, the president-elect Petar Stoyanov, Prime Minister Zhan Videnov, National Assembly Chairman Blagovest Sendov and the foreign and trade ministers met with him separately. The two sides signed and exchanged the Notes on the Provision of Free Aid in the Amount of RMB Yuan Three Million by the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Bulgaria and the agreement on the purchase by China National Chemicals Import and Export Corporation of one hundred fifty thousand tons of urea from Bulgaria.

1998

In May, Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov paid a state visit to China. President Jiang Zemin presided over the talks and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji met with the Bulgarian President separately. The two presidents signed the Sino-Bulgarian Joint Statement. During the visit, the sides also signed the Post Cooperation Agreement Between China and Bulgaria, the Veterinary Medicine Agreement, the 1998-2000 Program of Cultural, Scientific and Educational Cooperation, and the 1998-1999 Working Plan of Cooperation Between the State Intellectual Property Office of China and the Patent Administration of Bulgaria. In August, NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairwoman Peng Peiyun visited Bulgaria.

1999

In May, Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Jordan Sokolov visited China. NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with him separately. In June, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mikhailova visited China. Premier Zhu Rongji met with the visiting minister and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan presided over the talks. During the visit, the two sides signed the Agreement on Educational Cooperation Between the Between China and Bulgaria and the Agreement on Cooperation in Social Affairs Between the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of Bulgaria. In June, the vice chairwoman of the Bulgarian European Left Wing Party and vice chairwoman of the Bulgarian National Assembly Petia Shopova visited China. NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman Buhe and Dai Binguo, a member of the CPC Central Committee and head of the International Liaison Department of the Party Central Committee, and other leaders met and held talks with her. In September, the Chinese PLA Military Delegation headed by General Zhou Ziyu, director of the General Political Department of the PLA, visited Bulgaria. General Mihov, chief of general staff, and Deputy Defense Minister Shalamanov met or held talks with the delegation separately. October 4, President Jiang Zemin, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng, Premier Zhu Rongji and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan exchanged congratulatory messages with Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, National Assembly Chairman Iordan Sokolov and Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mikhailova on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria..

2000

In June, Premier Zhu Rongji paid an official visit to Bulgaria, where he held talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and met with Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov, National Assembly Chairman Iordan Sokolov, leaders of the parliamentary party groups and the mayor of Sofia Sofianski. During the visit, the two sides signed the Agreement on Cooperation in Environmental Protection Between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Bulgaria, the Agreement on Cooperation in Health and Medical Science Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria, the 2001-2003 Program of Cultural, Scientific and Educational Cooperation Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Agreement on Cooperation Between the Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Memorandum Concerning Cooperation in the Labor Market and the Social Policy Between the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria. In October, Assen Agov, chairman of the Foreign and Integration Policy Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly, visited China. The chairman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee Zeng Jianhui presided over the talks, and the NPC Standing Committee vice chairwoman He Luli and Vice Foreign Minister Ji Peiding met with him separately.

2001--2002

Gu Jinchi, Vice Chairman of the Internal and Judicial Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (November 2001), Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (May 2002), Wang Zhongyu, State Councilor (June 2002), Wu Yi, State Councilor, (July 2002).

Solomon Pasi, Bulgarian Foreign Minister (April 2002), Vasilev, Vice Premier and Minister of Economy of Bulgaria (April 2002)


II. Bilateral Economic and Trade Relations

The Sino-Bulgarian Mixed Committee of Economy, Trade and Science and Technology was established in 1985 and since then eight regular meetings have been convened.

The annual trade volumes between China and Bulgaria in the recent years are as follows:

Year Total Volume Chinese Import Chinese Export

1996 US$61.38 million US$33.92 million US$27.46 million

1997 US$47.97 million US$16.59 million US$31.38 million

1998 US$47.99 million US$2.80 million US$45.19 million

1999 US$62.66 million US$9.22 million US$53.44 million

2000 US$94.30 million US$13.47 million US$80.83 million

2001 US$118million US$28.46 million US$89.08 million


III. Bilateral Exchanges and Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Science and Technology and Education

In May 1990, the president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhou Guangzhao visited Bulgaria and signed the 1990-1993 program of cooperation between the Academies of the two countries.

In April 1992, the Bulgarian deputy prime minister and minister of education and science Nikolay Vassilev visited China and met with Premier Li Peng.

In February 1995, the director of the Bulgarian National Radio Station visited China and signed the agreement on radio and television cooperation between China and Bulgaria.

In April 1996, Health Minister Chen Minzhang visited Bulgaria and signed the 1996-1998 program of cooperation in health and medical science between the Health Ministries of the two countries.

In March 2000, Mayor of Sofia Sofianski visited China. The secretary of the Beijing Committee of the CPC Jia Qinglin and the mayor of Beijing Liu Qi met with him separately. In May, the Bulgarian minister of labor and social policy Neikov visited China, and held talks with the Chinese minister of labor and social security Doji Cering. In September, the chairman of the Bulgarian European Left Wing Party Aleksander Tomov visited China. Li Chengren, deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the talks, and CPPCC Vice Chairman Li Guixian and the director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee Liu Huaqiu met with him. In October, Bulgarian Procurator-General Nilola Filchev visited China. Chief Procurator Han Zhubin presided over the talks and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li Peng met with him.

In April 2002, the Delegation of Women Members of Parliament headed by Maslarova, Vice Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Group "For Bulgaria" of the Bulgarian National Assembly, visited China.

In July 2002, Bai Chunli, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited Bulgaria as a member of State Councilor Wu Yi's entourage and signed the Agreement of Scientific Cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with his Bulgarian counterpart.

Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (July 2002)


Important Bilateral Agreement:

Joint Communiqué of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Bulgaria