Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is in Bulgaria, and on Friday met with government leaders and signed a number of bilateral agreements. He also used the occasion to speak out about the new trade war between the US and China. Aljosa Milenkovic is in Sofia and has more.

For the first time in 18 years, a Chinese Premier is in Bulgaria. And there are two reasons behind Li Keqiang's visit.

A meeting with the heads of the government of sixteen countries of Central and Eastern Europe within the 16+1 format is set for Saturday. Friday he was received by Bulgarian leaders for an official visit to discuss bilateral issues. But the press conference THAT followed, the focus turned to trade war between US and China.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "China would never start a trade war, but if any party resorts to an increase of tariffs, then China will take measures in response, to protect China's development interests, uphold the authority of the WTO, and to save the multinational trade regime."

Bulgaria's prime minister used the stage to send the message to his EU partners that the 16+1 format and collaboration with China is not aimed against the EU.

BOYKO BORISOV BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER "The important message is that the format 16+1 does not divide Europe. This format is not against other countries, on the contrary. This is not a geo-political union, it is not anyone against another. It is a format aimed to increase the GDP to increase people's income. That's why I would like this message to be very clear from Sofia to all my colleagues in Europe."

In the Council of Ministers palace in Sofia, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony for several important agreements between the two sides, including joint work on the Belene Nuclear Power Plant, opening a 1.75 billion US dollar credit line between the development banks of the two countries and agreement between China's Union Pay credit service and Bulgaria's domestic credit card system.

ALJOSA MILENKOVIC SOFIA "Premier Li will attend 16+1 meeting here in Sofia and will try to solidify good relations with those countries, but the cloud of trade war with the US will for sure continue to hover over the Bulgarian capital during that meeting. Aljosa Milenkovic, CGTN, Sofia."