SOFIA - Chinese and Bulgarian officials have signed a deal on export of Bulgarian dairy products to China.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) signed the protocol here on Friday, officials confirmed Saturday.

"The protocol on veterinary and health requirements for dairy products creates conditions for the export of Bulgarian dairy products," the Bulgarian ministry said in a statement on its website.

Desislava Taneva, Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture and Food, said that currently Bulgaria has 28 approval procedures for the export of certain types of food and feed to China, the statement said.

According to the statement, Taneva expressed hope that the procedures for the export of tobacco and compound feed, as well as those related to animals, would be completed soon.

Zhang Qinrong, Vice Minister of the AQSIQ, said in turn that Bulgaria is an important country in the region of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and has a significant role in deepening cooperation between China and CEE.

Zhang said that the AQSIQ and its Bulgarian counterparts have achieved good results, and she hoped the two sides would expand cooperation.