国际英语新闻:Bulgarian, Indian FMs discuss strengthening bilateral ties

SOFIA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva and her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj discussed here on Saturday evening how to strengthen bilateral ties in areas such as trade and tourism.

It was a very productive, very successful, very good meeting, Swaraj told reporters after bilateral talks.

"We want to increase our trade, which is growing every year, for last year by 22 percent, but it is still nothing compared with the possibilities that we have," said the Bulgarian foreign minister.

There was also a 25 percent increase in tourist flow from India, said Zaharieva, who is also Bulgaria's deputy prime minister.

"I promised to improve our visa services for Indian tourists and to open visa centers in 15 Indian cities," Zaharieva said.

Sofia was Swaraj's first leg in her four-day visit to Bulgaria, Morocco and Spain.