12/09/2025
The Celestial Empire, the “world’s factory”—that is China, the globe’s second-largest economy. The Asian powerhouse is actively expanding its economic reach worldwide, with the Belt and Road Initiative as the apogee of these efforts, through which Beijing invests both capital and influence in dozens of countries.
But what of Bulgaria? How robust are the country's economic ties with China, and what steps is Sofia taking to strengthen trade relations?
Unfortunately, there are few. Economic relations along the Sofia–Beijing axis in recent years have developed largely to Bulgaria’s disadvantage, notes Lachezar Dinev, chairman of the Bulgarian–Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in an interview with Radio Bulgaria.
“Bulgaria’s relations with China have followed a rather unusual trajectory in recent years. In 2019, just before the pandemic, President Radev made a highly symbolic visit, during which our relations were elevated to the highest level - a ‘strategic partnership.’ For China, that is extremely significant. Following these meetings, there was a surge of enthusiasm, but then the pandemic struck, China closed its borders, and our economic ties have deteriorated sharply since then. Imports from China surged while our exports fell dramatically,” observes Dinev.
He provided figures showing that, in the first half of 2025 alone, Bulgaria’s exports to China had fallen by almost 40%, while imports from China had risen by a similar proportion. The association estimates that Bulgaria’s negative trade balance could reach 10 billion leva by the end of the year.
Read more in the link below:
The Celestial Empire, the “world’s factory”—that is China, the globe’s second-largest economy. The Asian powerhouse is actively expanding its economic reach worldwide, with the Belt and Road Initiative as the...
