Centre for Promotion of Cooperation in Farming between China, Central and Eastern European Countries to be Headquartered in Sofia

Sofia, June 24 (BTA) - The government establishes a Centre for
Promotion of Cooperation in Farming between China and Central
and Eastern European countries, the cabinet's informations
service said on Wednesday. The creation of the Centre implements
 a memorandum of understanding between the agriculture
ministries of Bulgaria and China signed last October.

The institution, under the umbrella of the Agriculture and Food
Ministry, will coordinate and plan initiatives in farming such
as the creation of joint ventures, promotion of trade in farm
produce, foods and drinks, exchange of experience and contacts
between China and the 16 Central and Eastern European countries.
 Annual meetings will be held on various key topics of the
cooperation which are expected to facilitate business contacts,
exchange of information and other questions of mutual interest.
The main task of the Centre will be to identify and select key
areas of cooperation, to sign memoranda and subordinate
agreements, implement concrete projects and promote the
effective cooperation.

The work of the Centre will be funded with money from the budget
 of the Agriculture and Food Ministry, and funding from
international programmes and projects, donations and aid. The
Centre is staffed by three officials, one of whom is the
director.

A 17-member Advisory Council is created with the Centre. The
members are nominated by the agriculture ministries of China and
 of the respective Central and Eastern European countries.