It is normal for a party like the BSP to have its own representation in China for a historical event. The BSP has always had excellent relations with China. I am not the first, nor will I be the last BSP chairman to visit China.
This was stated in the program "Denyat na zivo" on NOVA NEWS by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the BSP, Atanas Zafirov, who commented on his controversial visit to China.
"We held talks to promote economic ties between the two countries, cultural and educational exchange. Bulgaria is a country that should be open to global economies. No one has dismissed me from the post of Deputy Prime Minister and it is normal for me to be presented as such. I am invited as the Chairman of the BSP. All of us who were part of the government in the delegation were on annual paid leave. I am the chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and I do not think that I should inform Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov about my visits in this capacity. Otherwise, I can tell you that our relations with the Prime Minister are excellent. We have not spoken yet, but tomorrow at the regular meeting of the Council of Ministers this will happen and if he has questions for me, they will be clarified", he was categorical.
"I have not spoken with Putin, Lukashenko and Kim Jong-un. Outside of my conversation with Xi Jinping, I spoke with the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, the Prime Minister of Slovakia Fico, I also exchanged a few words with the Hungarian Foreign Minister. Bulgaria must be pragmatic in its foreign policy and I think that is exactly what I managed to do. The most heard word in China was peace. There is no contradiction in the actions of the cabinet. Bulgaria is a loyal member of the EU and NATO, but this should not hinder our relations with other countries and especially global economies," added Zafirov.
"It is still too early to talk about the presidential elections. I just want to say that we will enter these elections as a coalition that has won them in recent years. I hear suggestions that the ruling party should nominate a joint candidacy, but this did not work in Romania. I want to assure you that the Bulgarian left will nominate the best and most prepared candidates," Atanas Zafirov revealed.