Japan Removes Visas for Bulgarians

Japan will remove the short-stay visa regime for Bulgarian citizens in a move confirming the friendly bilateral relations and partnership between the two countries. The decision is part of the joint Partnership Declaration signed Wednesday by Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who is on an official visit to the country of Rising Sun, and his hosting counterpart Junichiro Koizumi. The countries' leaders have seen broader opportunities to extend bilateral partnership with local businessmen showing keen investment interest in sectors such as energy, IT and tourism. Bulgaria's premier delivered a lecture to a representative audience of local political and business elite stressing on the capacities of Bulgaria to become a gate for Japan to Europe, as the Balkan country is soon to become a full-ledged EU member.