Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov held a meeting on October 30 with Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra, with the main topics of discussion gravitating around bilateral trade, improvement of economic co-operation, reduction of carbon emissions and the ongoing Nato combat mission in Afghanistan, in which both Australia and Bulgaria are participating, a government press release said.

In regard to economic co-operation, both sides expressed sentiments that the "level of current economic co-operation is substantially below its potential capacity". To that effect, Purvanov told Rudd that Australia should seriously consider investing in Bulgaria, as the "country offers the best investment opportunities currently anywhere in the European Union and as such, it could be used as a launching pad for future expansion into the Balkan region, central and eastern Europe and the Black Sea basin", the statement said.

The two officials also discussed the approaching Second World Carbon Emissions Reduction Summit, and Purvanov's desire for Bulgaria to participate in the event. To that effect, Economy and Energy Minister Traicho Traikov presented his arguments for Bulgaria to be accepted, with Rudd saying that "Bulgaria's membership will be welcomed", the statement said.

Additionally, discussions were made regarding both countries' respective commitments and deployments in Afghanistan, and the importance of keeping the region free of insurgents and radical Islam.

Meanwhile, Purvanov’s visit to Australia was criticised in Bulgaria by the Blue Coalition who argue that such an expensive tour at a time of economic crisis in the country was highly unnecessary.