President Rumen Radev and Japan’s House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga Monday discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as innovation, information technology, science and education, the President’s Press Secretariat said.

Fukushiro Nukaga is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan.

Attracting larger Japanese investments, deepening economic cooperation and promoting tourist exchanges were the focus of the talks. The two stressed that active political dialogue at high and top level in recent years has created an important basis for the positive development of bilateral cooperation.

The sides also discussed the possibility of launching a direct air service between Sofia and Tokyo, which will help to further deepen relations between the two countries.

President Radev said Japan is a priority and like-minded partner of Bulgaria in the East Asian region, and the Japanese are friends to the Bulgarians. Radev and Nukaga also discussed the good conditions for investment in Bulgaria, which can afford Japanese businesses access to the rest of the European countries.

Energy, electronic engineering, robotics and the automotive industry, in which Bulgaria has made significant progress in recent years, were also identified as promising fields of cooperation.

Nukaga said Bulgaria is making efforts to establish itself as a regional centre for high technology, and cited the activities of the Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT), with which RIKEN, Japan’s National Research and Development Agency, is developing joint research.

The President expressed gratitude for Japan’s support for Bulgaria’s democratic transition, for the establishment of the principles of the market economy and for the strengthening of institutions, culture and education.

Earlier on Monday, Bulgarian National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan and Nukaga noted the stepping up of parliamentary relations between Bulgaria and Japan at a media briefing in the National Assembly. The official visit began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier in central Sofia.

This year marks three anniversaries in the relations between the two countries: 115 years since the first official contacts, 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and 65 years since their restoration.

Nazaryan noted that this meeting is emblematic and long-awaited, the first such meeting in the last 24 years, moreover, against the backdrop of a year that marks the three anniversaries. “This year we have managed to strengthen parliamentary relations at the level of friendship groups, chairmen, parliamentary committees”, National Assembly Chair said, adding that this is the third Japanese delegation in Bulgaria in the last six months.

Nukaga noted that he is glad to have the opportunity to celebrate this significant moment, the triple anniversary in bilateral relations, together with the National Assembly Chair Raya Nazaryan. He also expressed gratitude for the warm welcome for the Friendship Group with Bulgaria in the House of Councillors of the Japanese Parliament, which payed an official visit to Sofia in August.

Economic and business cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan dominated the talks between the two parliament leaders.

“The topics we are discussing, besides the long-standing good relations between the two countries, are strengthening the economic relations in the business environment, energy, tourism and increasing the export of Bulgarian goods to Japan”, Nazaryan said. In her words, thanks to the embassies in Sofia and Tokyo, a plan has been drawn up for holding various conferences and forums by the end of the year and for the next one, which will strengthen the economic cooperation, bilateral relations, partnership in the field of innovation, technology, artificial intelligence, robotics.

During the talks, the good results in bilateral relations were also noted, namely the signed memoranda between the Bulgarian Institute for Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Technology (INSAIT) and the Japanese national research agency RIKEN for joint research in the field of innovation, technology and artificial intelligence.

The Bulgarian side expressed gratitude to the Toyota Company which has launched a collaborative project with INSAIT.

Nukaga said that Bulgaria is “an important partner for Japan with whom we share common values”, adding that they would like to expand their cooperation with EU and NATO member Bulgaria.

Japanese companies and research centres are increasingly paying attention to Bulgaria’s excellent IT specialists as the country strives to become a regional innovation hub, Nukaga said. He pointed out that in October this year a Japanese business delegation from Japan External Trade Organization will visit Bulgaria. “I hope in this way we will cooperate to further develop our economic relations”, Nukaga added.

Japan’s House of Representatives Speaker noted that next year the World Expo 2025 will be held in Osaka and this is an excellent opportunity to show the “charm” of Bulgaria to Japan and the world.

During his visit to Bulgaria, Fukushiro Nukaga will hold talks with President Rumen Radev and with the caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev.