Bulgaria will strive to become a full member of the European Union as early as 2006 by implementing far-reaching economic reforms, according to a senior Bulgarian diplomat who was recently in Japan.

Bulgarian Vice Foreign Minister Marin Raykov, 39, was in Tokyo for four days to Tuesday to strengthen bilateral relations.

"Achieving political and economic reforms in Bulgaria have been very ambitious challenges," Raykov said. "We have met political requirements for the accession (to the EU)."