Russia, Bulgaria discuss promoting trade, economic cooperation

MOSCOW, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on Tuesday agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries by enhancing trade and economic cooperation, the Kremlin said.

The two heads of state discussed the common Slavic origins and bilateral relations as well as possibilities of deepening cooperation as they met at Putin's summer residence in the Russian city of Sochi, according to a Kremlin statement.

"Bilateral trade increased last year, which is good news. But our potential is larger than what we have been doing so far and what we have achieved," Putin said.

He said he would continue the discussion on bilateral economic cooperation with Bulgarian prime minister during his visit to Moscow in a few days.

Echoing Putin's remarks, Radev made a strategic review of bilateral relations and called for realizing the need for practical action.

He said that the goal of his visit is to try to resume the long-suspended top-level dialogue between Russia and Bulgaria, which is "of crucial significance in all spheres of mutual interest."

"We have many common interests in trade, the economy, education and culture, as you have said. I hope today we will hold an open and in-depth dialogue that will encourage our governments to keep working towards this," Radev said.

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, who also attended the meeting in Sochi, said Tuesday that Russia is ready to consider joint gas projects with Bulgaria against guarantees of the Bulgarian government and the European Commission, Tass news agency reported.

In addition, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom Alexey Likhachev reportedly said Tuesday that the company is planning to participate in a tender on the construction of a nuclear power plant in Bulgaria.

This year marks the 140th anniversary of Bulgaria's liberation from the Ottoman rule, a major landmark in both Russia and Bulgaria's history. The two countries will also celebrate the Day of Slavic Writing and Culture on May 24. Enditem