NEW DELHI/SOFIA (Bulgaria) : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met her Bulgarian counterpart and Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria Ekaterina Zaharieva on Saturday and the two leaders discussed a range of bilateral issues including economy, agriculture and health.
“Preparing ground for expanding relationship. EAM Sushma Swaraj held constructive meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Bulgaria E Zaharieva. Discussed a range of bilateral themes in economy, agriculture, health & pharma, IT, S &T, tourism & culture,” MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Ms Swaraj is on a two-day official visit to Bulgaria. She is also the the first ever Indian External Affairs Minister to visit Bulgaria.
The visit is a follow-up visit to the State visit of the President Ram Nath Kovind to Bulgaria in September last year.
In another tweet, Mr Kumar wrote: “Straight to work. Foreign Minister of Bulgaria welcomed EAM Sushma Swaraj ahead of the delegation level talks in Sofia”.
Two countries are natural partners based on the foundation of deep historical and cultural linkages dating back to the 8th century, he said.
“Preparing ground for expanding relationship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj held constructive meeting with Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister of #Bulgaria @EZaharievaMFA. Discussed a range of bilateral themes in economy, agriculture, health & pharma, IT, S &T, tourism & culture,” he said in another tweet.
Swaraj’s visit is a follow-up to the state visit of President Ram Nath Kovind to Bulgaria in September last year.
The External Affairs Minister will visit Kingdom of Morocco from February 17-18. She will be Spain from February 18-19.
The Spanish government will confer a prestigious award the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit’ to Ms Swaraj.
MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar told reporters here on Thursday that the award will be given to the Minister as recognition by the Spanish government for India’s “swift response” through Operation Maitri in rescuing 71 Spanish nationals from Nepal in April 2015 during the disastrous earthquake.
(AGENCIES)
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