/ world today news/ Half a year has passed since the launch of the China-Bulgaria House of Friendship platform, initiated by the Chinese Embassy in Sofia and personally by Ambassador Dong Xiaojun and his team. During this period, within the framework of the initiative, a number of interesting and useful activities related to deepening the friendship between the two countries were held, such as presenting books, holding cultural events, celebrating Chinese New Year holidays, celebrating International Women’s Day etc., which caused great interest among the Bulgarian public and the friends of China in Bulgaria.
In order for the House of Friendship to play an even more significant role as a platform for promoting exchange and cooperation between the countries in various fields, the Chinese Embassy in Sofia organized a meeting to gather projects for joint activities. The idea was to present various ideas and projects for cooperation in 2023 in various fields. More than 50 representatives of companies, business associations and cultural organizations participated.
In his welcome speech at the opening of the forum, Deputy Head of Embassy Minister-Counselor Yen Jianjun said: “With the stabilization of the global epidemic situation, exchanges between China and other countries have gradually begun to resume and China’s economy is recovering its rapid development. Chinese diplomacy has hit the “acceleration button” and we are fully ready for another march at full speed. Last week, China’s two sessions ended and the government’s work report was approved. It aims for economic growth of around 5% in 2023, which is 3% higher than the actual growth last year. This sends a positive signal about the overall improvement of the economy and the resumption of potential growth. In addition, the government work report affirmed that China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, firmly pursue the opening-up strategy based on a mutually beneficial and win-win basis, and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. In today’s persistently tense geopolitical environment, China’s attitude and measures taken to promote world peace and peaceful development are very valuable.”
“It can be expected that there will be a new wave of exchanges and more comprehensive cooperation between China and Europe. China is willing to work together with the EU to maintain true multilateralism, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, to jointly overcome various obstacles and difficulties, with the aim of further deepening the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and bringing more security, stability and positive energy in the world,” Yen Jianxiong also noted.
He emphasized that Bulgaria is an important strategic partner for China, and recalled the visit of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev to Beijing in 2019, during which the establishment of the Chinese-Bulgarian strategic partnership was announced. “In this context, there is also the opportunity to make better use of the House of Friendship between Bulgaria and China, as this will promote relations in the new situation between the people of the two countries and enrich bilateral practical cooperation,” the deputy head of the the embassy.
There were several highlights that stood out during the debates and proposals made by the more than 50 representatives of organizations, companies, associations, chambers and companies present.
An important upcoming event is the Festival of Chinese Cinema, which will take place between July 7 and 13 in several of the largest cinemas from the Arena chain in Sofia, Varna and Plovdiv.
“This festival is an expression of the excellent cooperation so far between the chain of cinemas Arena and the embassy of the PRC and will offer the Bulgarian audience – as well as the Chinese living in Bulgaria – some of the most interesting and new Chinese films. The interesting thing is that the films will have subtitles in Bulgarian, which will give the Chinese in Bulgaria the opportunity to enjoy them, said the director of the chain of Arena cinemas, which hosts the film screenings.
“In recent years, we have noticed a significant interest in Chinese cinema not only in Bulgaria, but also in a number of other countries, Chinese films are already being broadcast on some of the television channels, and now it is high time to show the wide Bulgarian audience the possibilities of this extremely attractive art” , he added.
In addition to feature films, several Bulgarian television stations will broadcast documentaries and historical films about China, some of which were jointly shot by Bulgarian and Chinese master cameramen and directors. These films will be broadcast not only on Bulgarian, but also on some television channels, which are watched in many countries of the world, explained the present directors and publicists.
A proposal that aroused interest was the organization of a Bulgarian-Chinese youth forum in the ancient Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, during which young people from both countries will be introduced to traditions, customs and features of the intangible cultural heritage of different regions of China and Bulgaria, combined with joint sports events.
Chinese martial arts are extremely interesting for Bulgarian youth, said representatives of the Tai Chi Association and proposed three projects in their schools in Sofia and Plovdiv, as well as the creation of a special park designed by Chinese architects, in which there will be various attractions, including competitions in these attractive sports.
An important place among the presented projects was the holding of the international jazz festival in the Bulgarian mountain resort of Borovets, which is held annually and in which Chinese performers also participated. Now, after the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese performers can be involved again, who, together with their Bulgarian and foreign fellow musicians, will show jazz music lovers their skills and the specifics of the Chinese version of this musical genre.
As for other cultural initiatives, the idea of creating a special “dance residence” – a Chinese dance school – sparked interest.
During the world-famous annual “Sofia Music Weeks” in the Bulgarian capital, this year Chinese musical artists will be invited to participate – this is what the chairman of the event promised, and Bulgarian musicians will also present their opportunities to the Chinese audience.
The combination of culture and industry can answer the demand and interests of thousands of Chinese culture lovers, but through the use of the latest digital and modern technologies. This was another proposal that included the creation of an industrial park in the city of Pleven. 99% of the photovoltaics in Bulgaria are Chinese, and over 80% of the photovoltaic equipment in a number of European countries is Chinese – it became clear from the proposals made for the creation of a specialized industrial park.
As the most recent, unique and extremely attractive event that aroused the interest and grabbed the attention of all present was the upcoming Dragon Boat Summer Festival on a lake near the Bulgarian capital in June. Many friends of China from Central and Eastern Europe will be involved in the organization of the event. In addition to the dragon boat races on Lake Pancharevo, a culinary festival will be held during the festival, which will showcase the best of the culinary traditions of the CEE countries. . The initiator of the Festival is the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sofia, and among the main partners and co-organizers are the Municipality of Sofia, embassies in Bulgaria of countries from Asia, the General Service for Sports of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Cultural Center in Sofia, the Confucius Institute at Sofia University, Municipality Ruse, Bulgarian National Association “One Belt, One Road”, Bulgarian Canoe-Kayak Federation, Exclusive representative and importer of “Maotai” brandy in Bulgaria; and supporting institutions are the Ministries of Culture, Tourism, Youth and Sports, Agriculture and other Bulgarian institutions and organizations. During the festival, it will be possible to see another interesting and “delicious” Chinese tradition – a tea ceremony will be specially presented, which will show the Bulgarian public and lovers of Chinese tea art, in addition to dozens of different types of Chinese tea, but also the most correct ones ways to prepare authentic Chinese tea. At the same time, it will be possible to see and buy beautiful tea cups and sets made of Chinese porcelain, which will delight both collectors and tea lovers not only from Bulgaria, but also the guests of the event.
Last but not least, the idea of strengthening media cooperation between Bulgaria and China was presented. The chairman of SBJ Snezhana Todorova announced the news of joint use by Bulgarian and Chinese journalists and media of the International House of Journalists in the Black Sea city of Varna, which is owned by SBJ. In June, a large Chinese delegation of representatives from the All-China Association of Journalists will arrive to sign the cooperation and sharing agreement. Thus, it will be possible to organize various events, seminars, discussions, film screenings and other cultural events in the beautiful Black Sea capital of Bulgaria.
Much more can be written and talked about the proposals made during the meeting of the House for Cooperation between Bulgaria and China. But, as the organizers from the embassy of the PRC also emphasized, there are other meetings to come, at which more projects for joint initiatives between the two countries will be presented.
By the end of the year, the House for Friendship between Bulgaria and China will initiate other interesting events, in the context of celebrating the 10th anniversary of the “One Belt, One Road” megaproject.
“After a three-year break, we have once again opened the doors for a wider exchange between the two countries and peoples”, said the organizers and leaders from the Chinese Embassy at the end of the meeting, once again expressing their satisfaction and admiration for the great interest that Bulgarians show in Chinese culture and art, as well as vice versa – the desire of many Chinese to visit Bulgaria and get acquainted with its sights and beautiful places, with Bulgarian culture and crafts, with the charms of Bulgarian art, music and dance, which are unique. Therefore, we must pool our resources to meet the future challenges together.
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