Events

The 2nd China-Bulgaria Rectors Forum successfully held in Bulgaria

To further promote educational cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, Ms. Bo Fu, Deputy Secretary-General of China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), led a delegation of 55 leaders and representatives from 29 Chinese universities on a visit to Bulgaria in October 2024. On October 14, CEAIE and the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) jointly hosted the second China-Bulgaria Rectors Forum. The event brought together representatives from over 20 Bulgarian universities, including Sofia University and Veliko Tarnovo University, as well as government officials and education experts.

Ms. Dai Qingli, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Bulgaria Bo Fu, Deputy Secretary General of CEAIE, Professor Nikolay Vitanov, Vice Minister of Education and Science of the People's republic of Bulgaria, Professor Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of UNWE and Professor Miglena Temelkova, Chair of the Bulgarian Rectors Forum attended the Forum and delivered speeches.

Ambassador Dai highlighted that the Chinese government has always placed great importance on education, particularly in advancing educational reform and enhancing internationalization and is committed to nurturing a young generation with global perspectives and innovative spirits. For China, Bulgaria is a key partner in Central and Eastern Europe, and it is expected that educational in both countries would continue to foster more fruitful collaborations in academic research, talent development, and educational innovation, ushering in a new chapter of China-Bulgaria educational cooperation.

Vice Minister Nikolay Vitanov mentioned that over the years, China and Bulgaria have achieved many successfully outcomes in the fields of education, scientific research, and talent cultivation,and especialy in Chinese language learning. He encouraged the Bulgaria and Chinese education community to create platforms for cultivating talents with international vision and strengthening the traditional friendship between the two peoples in the future.

Rector Dimitar Dimitrov emphasized the importance of further deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation in higher education, and expressed his great honor in welcoming the Chinese delegation and witnessing the MOU signing of partnership agreements.

Ms. Bo Fu stressed that CEAIE, as the leading national organization in China dedicated to promoting non-governmental international educational cooperation and the Chinese Secretariat of China-CEEC Higher Education Institutions Consortium(CCHEIC), has been dedicated in advancing China-Europe education collaboration. In May 2024, during his visit to Europe, President Xi Jinping announced an initiative to “Increase the number of French students studying in China to over 10,000 within the next three years and to double the scale of youth exchanges between China and Europe.”. China warmly welcomes Bulgarian youth to participate in the “Young Envoys Scholarship” (YES Program) to visit China, fostering mutual understanding through various short and long term exchange programs, and injecting new vitality into the future of China-Bulgaria relations.


During the forum, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as the digital transformation of higher education, opportunities and challenges in two-way mobility for students and faculty, and deepening practical cooperation in scientific research. Keynote speakers included Zhao Jing, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Wuhan University of Technology Tang Zhenming, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Hunan University and Zhang Chunxiang, President of Southwest Medical University. They shared valuable insights and suggestions based on their respective research fields and practical experiences. Additionally, Wang Junyin, Vice Chairman of the University Council of Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, and Long Ping, Principal of Hunan Chemical Vocational Technology College, introduced their institutions’ unique characteristics, actively promoting the achievements of China’s higher education.



A total of 10 Bulgarian universities signed MOUs with Chinese universities during the forum.

The forum also featured free networking sessions, where participants could interact and explore new cooperation.

Prior to the offial opening of the forum, the choir from Sofia’s Private Secondary School “Evlogy and Hristo Georgievi” sang two Chinese popular Chinese songs which deeply touched the audience.

During the visit, the Chinese delegation will also visit the Agricultural University of Plovdiv and the Academy of Music, Dance, and Fine Arts in Plovdiv to explore developments in Bulgaria’s agricultural and arts disciplines, further expanding cooperation channels and contributing to the long-term development of China-Bulgaria educational cooperation.