Sofia, Oct 18 (IANS): Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski said here Thursday that his country would encourage all sorts of private Chinese investments in its private sector.

"We would encourage all sorts of private Chinese investments in the private sector in Bulgaria and we are more careful in investments that are directed in the public sector, due to the policy of refraining from excessive borrowing and indebtedness of the state," reported Xinhua citing Oresharski.

The prime minister said it in a keynote speech at the EU-Balkan Summit "Paving the way to recovery and growth" organised by The Economist.

Hoping that Bulgaria would attract Chinese investments, Oresharski said he looked positively to all serious investments, especially investments in the private sector that would improve the technological potential of the Bulgarian economy.

According to the statistics from the Ministry of Economy and Energy of Bulgaria, during the period 1996-2012, the Chinese investment in the Balkan country reached 85 million euros (about $116 million), with 67 million euros invested during the last two years.

The investment is concentrated mainly in the areas of agriculture, automobile, renewable energy and environmental protection.