Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova is part of Bulgaria's official delegation to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and attended the opening of the General Debate. During her stay there, she held a series of bilateral meetings with partners from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Petrova spoke with Singapore's top diplomat Vivian Balakrishnan and with her Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov. She also held meetings with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, as well as with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who heads the foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates.
"Foreign policy has value when it creates concrete opportunities for the country — more security, more economic contacts and stronger international partnerships," Petrova said during the meetings.
In the talks, she discussed with her partners the development of bilateral relations, international security, trade and investment, energy and strategic connectivity. With her Singaporean and Pakistani counterparts, as well as with Sheikh Abdullah, she placed particular emphasis on opportunities for closer transport, energy and economic links between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The discussions also touched on preparations for the Regional Connectivity Summit, which Bulgaria will host in 2027. The forum will provide an opportunity to build new partnerships and turn regional priorities into concrete projects and investments.
On the second day of her stay in New York, Petrova also met with the head of the United Nations Development Programme, Alexander De Croo. She also attended a high-level forum on food security in the Black Sea region.