Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) meets Bulgaria's Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski at a meeting in Dalian, Northeast China' s Liaoning province, on Tuesday, one day before the 7th Summer Davos Forum. [Photo by Zou Hong]

DALIAN -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski vowed to upgrade bilateral relations in their meeting in Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province on Tuesday.

China and Bulgaria are traditional friends and good partners with mutual trust and reciprocal cooperation, Li said. He promised China would work with Bulgaria to strengthen high-level exchanges, carry out closer coordination and cooperation on international affairs, expand trade and economic cooperation, and deepen cultural exchanges, so as to comprehensively upgrade the bilateral ties.

Li added that China is willing to discuss new concepts and ways of cooperation with all central and eastern European countries including Bulgaria, and increase their mutual investment.

Oresharski echoed Li, saying Bulgaria and China share broad prospects for cooperation. He said Bulgaria wants to learn from China's experience of national development, and further deepen bilateral cooperation.

He welcomed more Chinese companies to invest in Bulgaria and pledged to promote Bulgaria-China relations, and the relationship between central and eastern European countries and China.

Oresharski is in the coastal city of Dalian to attend the Summer Davos Forum. The annual Summer Davos meeting is scheduled to open on September 11. Li will attend the opening ceremony and deliver a speech.

Summer Davos, also known as the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, is an annual gathering of business leaders, government officials and scholars from around the world. China has hosted Summer Davos, alternately in Tianjin and Dalian, since its inception in 2007.