"Bulgaria is ready to participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan with EUR 1,300 M to be used for technical assistance in the fields of agriculture, reconstruction of the destroyed transport and telecommunications networks, infrastructure, education and health care," Bulgarian Finance Minister Milen Velchev said in his address to the participants in the International Conference on Reconstruction Assistance to Afghanistan. Finance Minister Velchev proposed Sofia to host the meeting of the official creditors of Afghanistan. During his visit to Tokyo, Velchev met his Japanese counterpart Masajuro Shiokawa. The two officials discussed Japan's further support for the structural reform in Bulgaria as well as co-financing with a loan to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Japanese Government expressed readiness to provide financial aid for the realization of infrastructure projects of regional significance in Southeastern Europe. Japanese Finance Minister Shiokawa said he was impressed by Bulgaria's economic indicators and its higher credit rating due to the balanced fiscal policy and ambitious structural reform program of the new Bulgarian Cabinet.