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On April 24, 2025, the founding conference of the China–Bulgaria Education and Culture Cooperation Alliance was held at Nantong University, marking an important new chapter in educational and cultural collaboration between the two countries.

Among the distinguished guests were Grigor Vladimirov, Chairman of Education4Everybody; Eleonora Tankova, Vice President of Varna Free University; Yang Ming, Secretary General of the Alliance; and Law Sarah, Secretary General of the Bulgarian Asian Sports, Culture and Tourism Association.

The conference was jointly hosted by Nantong University and Varna Free University and organized by Nantong University’s International Cooperation and Exchange Department, School of Textiles and Clothing, and Institute of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Representatives from more than 40 universities and partner institutions across China, including Guilin Tourism College, Shanghai Jianqiao University, China University of Geosciences, Soochow University, Hebei Academy of Fine Arts, and Wuhan University of Arts and Sciences, attended the event.

Celebrating Friendship and Cooperation

Wang Weidong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nantong University, opened the conference with warm congratulations and heartfelt thanks to the Bulgarian guests who traveled from afar and to the leaders of the participating universities. He emphasized that Bulgaria was among the first Central and Eastern European countries to sign a “Belt and Road” cooperation agreement with China, and highlighted the deep-rooted friendship and strong ties between the two nations in education, culture, science, and technology.

He expressed hope that the Alliance would serve as a powerful platform for both sides to broaden cooperation, deepen mutual understanding, and showcase how education connects civilizations and cooperation builds the future.

Building the Foundation of the Alliance

In her address, Eleonora Tankova, Vice President of Varna Free University, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Education of China, the Embassy and Consulate General of Bulgaria in China, and all founding partners of the Alliance. She described the creation of the Alliance as a vital step in strengthening strategic partnerships between China and Bulgaria and looked forward to building a shared platform for science, education, culture, and sustainable development.

During the conference, the assembly unanimously approved the charter of the Alliance and confirmed its leadership team.

• Wang Weidong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nantong University, was elected Rotating Chairman (China).

• Petar Hristov, President of Varna Free University, was elected Rotating Chairman (Bulgaria).

• Grigor Vladimirov was elected Executive Chairman, and Liu Qixia became Executive Vice Chairman.
  A number of vice chairmen, secretaries-general, and directors were also appointed from leading Chinese and Bulgarian institutions.

Together, Wang Weidong and Grigor Vladimirov presented certificates to members of the presidium and secretariat and unveiled the China–Europe Belt and Road Art Institute.

As part of the event, Vice President Eleonora Tankova issued appointment letters to the first group of China–Bulgaria Joint Doctoral Supervisors at Varna Free University — a milestone in developing joint academic programs and research supervision.

Expanding International Collaboration

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting marked the official opening of the China–Bulgaria Education and Culture Cooperation Alliance. Following the main conference, partner institutions held meetings to discuss collaboration on joint academic programs, student and scholar exchanges, and joint research under the framework of the “China–Europe Belt and Road” initiative.

Several representative offices of Varna Free University’s China Admissions Center were unveiled in Guangxi, Hubei, and Shanghai, further expanding the channels for academic cooperation and student mobility between the two countries.

In the days following the conference, the Bulgarian delegation visited Nantong Vocational College of Science and Technology, Shanghai Jianqiao University, and other partner institutions, where they explored new opportunities for joint degrees, faculty development, and cultural exchange.

On April 26, the delegation also met with Mr. Vladislav Spasov, Consul General of Bulgaria in Shanghai, and Deputy Consul General Yavor Tomov, who congratulated the establishment of the Alliance and expressed the Consulate’s full support for its future activities.

Looking Ahead

The founding conference and its series of cooperation meetings spanned three days and resulted in numerous agreements and partnerships. The China–Bulgaria Education and Culture Cooperation Alliance now stands as a vibrant platform for connecting universities, institutions, and individuals from both countries.

Moving forward, the Alliance will continue