H.E. Dong Xiaojun: Culture, education, science and technology are important areas of cooperation between China and Bulgaria – 2024-02-19 13:01:02

/ world today news/ Conversation about KMG with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the PRC in Sofia

Question: Your Excellency, we are on the eve of one of the brightest national holidays – May 24, the Day of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, of the Bulgarian alphabet, education and culture, and of Slavic literature. The relations and contacts between China and Bulgaria in the fields of culture, science and education are very good and are expressed in various bilateral and joint initiatives. I am asking for your comment and opinion on these relations and how do you see the prospect of their development and expansion?

Answer: Culture, education, science and technology are important areas of cooperation between China and Bulgaria, which play a major role in strengthening our friendly relations and cultural exchange as a whole.

Before the pandemic, cultural, educational and scientific-technical exchange and cooperation between our countries was frequent and close. As for culture, a special event has been held in Bulgaria for many years dedicated to the coming of the Chinese New Year, and it has become a significant holiday that our peoples celebrate. In addition, with the active development of Bulgarian culture and art, quite a few Chinese artists can perform at cultural festivals in Bulgaria. Since 2019, a Chinese cultural center has started functioning in Sofia, which is the first of its kind in a Central and Eastern European country. In terms of education, the Chinese language has been taught in Bulgaria since the 1950s, and there are currently two Confucius Institutes operating in the country. More than 3,000 Bulgarian students study Chinese. Initiatives such as the “International Chinese Language Day” and the “Chinese Language Bridge” competitions are very popular. As for science and technology, in 2018, in the presence of the Prime Ministers, our two countries signed an Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and in 2019, a large-scale Chinese-Bulgarian research project was launched.

With the subsidence of the pandemic, we have resumed cooperation and exchange in the fields of culture, education, science and technology in all directions, and our goal is not only to return them to the previous level, but also to expand them and raise their quality.

From June to August this year we will hold the first “Season of Chinese Culture” in Bulgaria. One of the activities that I would particularly like to mention, which will take place here for the first time, is a dragon boat race. In this celebration, apart from the boat race itself, there will also be a culinary and cultural bazaar, stage performances and other entertainment activities that all those who come to the festival can participate in. I hope that, in addition to helping even more Bulgarians to touch China and get to know it better, these events will bring joy, health, harmony and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation to everyone.

Question: Recently, on the initiative of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, a House of Friendship between Bulgaria and China was established, which has already held several notable events. What more interesting ideas do you have for Friendship House initiatives by the end of the year?

Answer: Since October last year, when the China-Bulgaria Friendship House was opened, until now, we have held many different activities, which have played an important role in the closer exchange and cooperation between our countries. In March, we organized a meeting at which we presented and issued an invitation to participate in the “House of Friendship between China and Bulgaria” project. People from various circles and backgrounds exchanged views and made proposals for our cooperation in a number of areas. We also discussed the prospects for further activities. There are projects already underway. As an open and inclusive modern platform, the House of Friendship between China and Bulgaria will implement a series of events in the future. For example, we plan activities related to the “Season of Chinese Culture” between June and August, we will continue with the “open doors” days at the embassy for students from primary and secondary schools, we will hold youth salons to which we will invite Bulgarians who have visited or studied in China to exchange views, we also plan seminars dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. And we invite all our friends to participate, anyone who wants can give new suggestions and ideas to enrich the content of the activities.

Question: A Memorandum between the All-China Association of Journalists and the Union of Bulgarian Journalists for the establishment of a Bulgarian-Chinese Journalism Center is expected to be signed soon in Bulgaria. The idea is for the Center to be in the International House of Journalists near the Black Sea city of Varna. Do you think that this new Bulgarian-Chinese initiative in the field of media cooperation will activate various forms of cooperation between Bulgarian and Chinese journalists and media by strengthening the exchange, dialogue and good practices, by organizing joint seminars, conferences, exhibitions and other events , which will contribute to a better understanding of the economy and culture of both countries, as well as to increase the interaction and cooperation between the media from China and Bulgaria?

Answer: Media exchange is an important area of ​​cooperation between China and Bulgaria, which has long played a key role in deepening our traditional friendship and getting to know each other. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the China-CEE Cooperation Mechanism is also entering its second decade. In this context, at the end of June, journalistic organizations from our two countries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a Home of Chinese and Bulgarian Journalists, which – I believe – will further expand the exchange and cooperation between the media and become an important platform for deepening getting to know each other, to exchange opinions, to study the experience of the media and journalists of the countries, as well as to exchange information and strive for common development. I also hope that within the framework of this mechanism, journalists and friends from both sides will deepen their understanding of each other, constantly raise the level of media interaction through short-term trainings, exchanges, visits, seminars and other forms.