Bulgaria is widening its political and economic contacts with partners across the world, foreign minister Velislava Petrova said, according to the foreign ministry's press office. She took part in a series of multilateral meetings and bilateral talks during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Petrova joined an informal meeting between EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, where they discussed ties between the two regions. She also spoke with the UN high commissioner for refugees, Barham Salih. She attended an event marking 75 years since the 1951 Refugee Convention was adopted. Bulgaria is among the co-organizers of the event.

The Bulgarian minister also held separate talks with the foreign ministers of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeenbek Kulubayev. In both meetings the sides discussed connectivity and specific joint projects. Bulgaria is trying to build closer ties with countries in the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

A day earlier, asked by BTA, Petrova explained what actually happens at the UN's high-level meetings. "The high-level meeting during the UN session sets the political direction — it's not where specific decisions get made, but it's where the tone is set," she said.

The general political debate of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly runs from 22 to 28 September at the organization's headquarters in New York. Sunday, 27 September, is a day off. High-level representatives from all 193 UN member states are taking part. More than 150 countries are expected to be represented by their head of state or prime minister. Bulgaria's delegation is led by president Iliana Yotova.