13.11.2026 / Smart Agriculture Seminar Continues with Beijing and Ningbo Field Visits and Concludes with Official Ceremony at Ningbo University
The Smart Agriculture Seminar for Bulgarian participants taking place in the Chinese cities of Beijing and Ningbo continued with an intensive programme covering field visits to enterprises, agricultural centers, and other facilities.
On November 4, 2026, the seminar participants visited the Beijing Jingwa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center (Jingwa Center) near Beijing. They were introduced to the technology park project, which is currently under development, as well as key zones within the project. The Beijing Jingwa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Center (Jingwa Center) was established as a non-profit private organization in response to the Municipal Government’s requirements for agricultural science and technology innovation. Jingwa Center, a core engine of the Pinggu Agricultural Zhongguancun park, aims to integrate strategic consulting, technological research, the commercialization of research results, talent development, demonstration and international exchange, drawing inspiration from the Dutch ‘Golden Triangle’ collaboration model. The center’s construction plan includes three sub-centers – fruit, dairy and greenhouse horticulture. The seminar participants visited manufacturers of food supplements and companies within the livestock sector based in the park. They also toured vegetable greenhouses that utilize precision measurement systems, as well as a dairy farm.
During a visit to Beijing Huadu Yukou Poultry Industry Co., Ltd., a company with over 3,000 employees, recognized by China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as an integrated layer breeder, the seminar participants were introduced to the company’s automated production processes, including layer farming, egg production, and broiler production. They were also given the opportunity to remotely observe one of the company’s production facilities. A presentation delivered by the company provided them with information about the digital platforms and processes deployed by the company.
On November 5, 2026, the seminar participants visited Yimutian Group, which has developed an online platform for matchmaking involving agricultural products. During the visit, the Bulgarian delegation observed a digital dashboard displaying data about the popularity of various products on the platform. A presentation by the company followed. It included an overview of the platform, which is used by approximately 60 million users and is mostly used by larger farms and cooperatives. Buyers on the platform include supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, and the restaurant sector. The platform is empowered by artificial intelligence, allowing users to ask questions and receive information regarding goods, pricing, and other relevant details.
On the same day, the delegation visited Beijing Cuihu Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. (for short referred to as Shounong Cuihu Farm). The company is part of Xijiao Farm, which belongs to the Shounong Food Group in the Beijing region. The company’s park covers a total area of 878 mu, or more than 58 hectares. It comprises three areas: a green demonstration factory, a supporting industry and collaboration zone, and an R&D and innovation base. The park houses the largest single base for multi-span greenhouse vegetable production in the Beijing-Hebei-Tianjin region. The farm features an intelligent multi-span greenhouse spanning an area of 210,000 square meters. The seminar participants visited a tomato greenhouse at the farm, which operates using various intelligent systems, and inspected the fertigation and packaging facilities. During the visit, company representatives provided explanation to the seminar participants about the greenhouse processes, the produce and the methods used for its distribution and sale.
On November 7, 2026, in the city of Ningbo, the seminar participants visited the CEEC Portal Ningbo, where presentations were delivered by representatives of the China-CEEC Expo (an exhibition held in Ningbo), the China-CEEC Customs Information Center, as well as by the companies Zhejiang Zhongxing Huinong Information Technology Co., Ltd., which presented equipment for the digitalization of agricultural production, and Di&Val Music Consultancy / Ningbo Diva Culture Communication Co., Ltd., a company founded by the Bulgarian national Mr. Vladimir Tsanev.
Following their visit to the CEEC Portal Ningbo, the seminar participants headed to the venue for the Bulgarian Smart Agriculture Exchange Forum, an event co-organized by APACCCEEC and the China (Ningbo) CEE Youth Innovation Center, which involved opportunities for bilateral meetings and free discussions.
On November 8, 2026, a visit to the Ningbo Permanent Pavilion of Central and Eastern European Products took place. The delegation of participants in the Smart Agriculture Seminar explored products from the Central and Eastern European countries, including cosmetics, wine and jams from Bulgaria. The permanent pavilion also featured a diverse range of other food products, cosmetics, and further goods from the CEE region. Seminar participants visited the Bulgarian pavilion located in the exhibition hall, which showcased various rose-based products. The tour also included a visit to a section dedicated to Chinese herbs and medical products.
On the same day, a China-Bulgaria International Academic Symposium on Smart Agriculture was held at the Ningbo Permanent Pavilion of Central and Eastern European Products. During the event, researchers from the China-CEEC Institute for Economic and Trade Cooperation, Ningbo University, delivered presentations, as follows:
– Prof. Zhang Mengting discussed the changing global landscape and China’s practices in developing sea-land dual hubs. She referred to the Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan as an example. The port, with an annual cargo throughput of 1.432 billion tons and a container throughput of 43.87 million TEUs in 2025, is a hub of global significance, facilitating the development of the connected inland areas;
– Mr. Zhou Jianjun, an Associate Research Fellow, presented a study focused on exchanges between Chinese cities and their foreign partners, linked through sister-city cooperation or international friendship, and discussed the role which this friendship plays in fostering commercial relations;
– Mr. Qiu Liping outlined a study related to green industry structure and sustainable cooperation strategies between China and the Visegrád Group countries;
– Ms. Xia Yingxiang, an Assistant Researcher, discussed the progress made and opportunities for cooperation between China and the CEE countries in the field of scientific and technological innovations.
On November 9, 2026, the Bulgarian delegation visited the Technology Center of Ningbo Customs. The Center carries out a wide range of activities, including inspection, quarantine, testing, identification, and research. It comprises over 20 specialized laboratories across various locations. Spanning a total area of approximately 100,000 square meters, the Technology Center is equipped with more than 9,300 sets of instruments and equipment. The Center focuses on the application of smart technologies in testing. The Bulgarian participants had the opportunity to tour laboratories where food products are tested and were provided with explanation regarding the equipment used, the parameters monitored, and the methodology applied to sample analysis.
Following the tour of the laboratory facilities, the seminar participants attended a discussion with representatives from the Ningbo Customs and the China-CEEC Customs Information Center, with which APACCCEEC is cooperating. The discussion involved Mr. Liang Qiping, Director of the China-CEEC Information and Cooperation Division at Ningbo Customs; Mr. Cao Guozhou, Director of the Ningbo Customs Technology Center; Mr. Fu Kejie, Deputy Director of the Ningbo Customs Technology Center; representatives from the laboratories for animal quarantine, molecular biology, and pesticide and veterinary drug residue testing; as well as representatives from the China-CEEC Information and Cooperation Division of Ningbo Customs and the Trade Facilitation Service Department of the Technology Center. During the session, the Bulgarian participants had the opportunity to ask questions regarding food testing and to discuss prospects for exchange and potential future cooperation with the Ningbo Customs Technology Center.
On the same day, the Bulgarian delegation also visited the Nanlan Bay Modern Agriculture Demonstration Park, located near the city of Ningbo. The park focuses on the development of seed industry and the commercialization of scientific achievements in agriculture. It also works on the trial cultivation of new fruit and vegetable varieties. Seminar participants inspected a tomato greenhouse within the park and observed the integrated supervision system for the smart greenhouse.
The end of the Smart Agriculture Seminar held in the cities of Beijing and Ningbo was marked by an official ceremony for presenting certificates to the participants, which took place on November 10 at Ningbo University. The event was moderated by Ms. Wang Sixue, seminar coordinator on the Chinese side. Speakers at the closing ceremony included Mr. Zhang Haibo, Deputy Dean of China-CEEC Institute for Economic and Trade Cooperation at Ningbo University, Ms. Zhang Qian, Chief Project Evaluator at the Foreign Economic Cooperation Centre under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, and Dr. Nikolaya Velcheva, Associate Professor at the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources ‘K. Malkov’ – Sadovo, who spoke on behalf of the seminar participants.
