30.06.2025 / APACCCEEC celebrated its 10th anniversary with an International Conference
APACCCEEC celebrates its 10th Anniversary with the International Conference “10 Years APACCCEEC: Bridge for Cooperation Between China and the CEE Countries”
On June 26, 2025, APACCCEEC marked its 10th anniversary by organizing an international conference in Sofia, held in a hybrid format (both in-person and online). The event brought together APACCCEEC partners from governmental institutions, academia, research organizations, and the business sector — all of whom have consistently supported the Association’s projects and initiatives over the past decade.
The event brought together over 150 participants, including representatives from Bulgaria, China, Serbia, Greece, North Macedonia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Montenegro, and other CEE countries.
The conference featured five panel discussions, focusing on: the current state of economic relations between China and CEE countries, scientific and academic partnerships, innovation, and successful business practices fostering bilateral cooperation.
The international conference was officially inaugurated by Dr. Lozana Vassileva, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Bulgaria. In her opening address, Dr. Vassileva emphasized that since its establishment on June 26, 2015, in Sofia, APACCCEEC has proven to be a key instrument for fostering cooperation in agriculture and food production, as well as for promoting trade in agri-food products between China and Central and Eastern Europe.
She highlighted the strategic importance of the Association’s ongoing projects and expressed confidence that APACCCEEC will continue to successfully fulfill its mission of delivering mutually beneficial outcomes.
H.E. Ms. Wang Ming, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the People’s Republic of China to Bulgaria, emphasized that agricultural cooperation has undeniably become one of the earliest established, most productive, most recognizable, and widely supported platforms within the China-CEEC framework. She commended APACCCEEC for its decade-long efforts in deepening this collaboration and expressed gratitude for its instrumental role in advancing bilateral ties.
In his welcoming address, Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Director of APACCCEEC, greeted all partners whose support has enabled the Association to successfully conduct its mission, vision, and goals over the past ten years.
Dr. Stanishev noted that since becoming APACCCEEC’s Director four years ago, he has set ambitious goals in two key areas: not only contributing to international cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe in agriculture but also motivating more young people to engage with the sector’s challenges, stay informed about current trends, and become innovators.
He then reviewed the Association’s current projects and initiatives, placing special emphasis on the recently opened Liaison Office and Permanent Pavilion of the CEE countries in Ningbo, China. Dr. Stanishev highlighted that this is not just a demonstration center for food products, beverages, and cosmetics from Central and Eastern European countries. Located within the vibrant and enchanting atmosphere of Ningbo’s historic old bund, the Permanent Pavilion is a space where the cultural and culinary diversity of CEEC nations comes to life.
Professor Leng Changjian, President of Shandong Agricultural University, noted that current cooperation between China and CEEC countries is reaching new heights, presenting both opportunities and challenges. He shared the university’s experience and best practices in strengthening high-quality international education. Professor Leng Changjian highlighted that since its establishment in 1906, the University has trained over 400,000 professionals from many countries worldwide and has received more than 50 national awards for its achievements.
Mr. Nabil Gangi, Deputy Regional Representative of FAO – UN for Europe and Central Asia, highlighted the importance of innovation and transfer of knowledge and skills for agricultural development. Mr. Gangi noted that APACCCEEC is making significant efforts in this area through its participation in the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance, as well as initiatives such as the Accelerator Program for start-ups in the field of agriculture between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture.
Mr. Gangi pointed out some of FAO’s key priorities: combating climate change, promoting sustainable development, ensuring food security, and encouraging the participation of women and youth in agriculture. The FAO Regional Representative emphasized China’s role as a leader in green technologies and reaffirmed the UN specialized agency’s commitment to partnering with the China-CEEC Secretariat.
The last panelist at the official opening of the International Conference was Dr. Vasil Todorov, Vice President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI). In his address, Dr. Todorov shared the view that in its cooperation with China, the Bulgarian side aims to attract significant Chinese investments in sectors where the country has traditional strengths and those that ensure high added value and increased economic competitiveness—mechanical engineering, automotive manufacturing, electronics and electrical engineering, information and communication technologies, agriculture and food processing, and tourism.
Dr. Vasil Todorov praised Dr. Momchil Stanishev and his team for the traditionally excellent cooperation between the BCCI and APACCCEEC.
Following the official part of the International Conference, a cooperation agreement was signed between APACCCEEC and Tarim University, located in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The Conference program included two academic panels, two business panels, and a panel for young entrepreneurs—winner of the first edition of the Accelerator Program and participants from the three editions of the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture held so far.
The participants in the academic panels were as follows: Prof. Dr. Elenita Velikova, Vice-Rector of the University of National and World Economy; Assoc. Prof. Boryana Ivanova, PhD, Rector of Agricultural University – Plovdiv; Prof. Bojan Lalic, Director of Serbia Belt and Road Research Institute; Prof. Dr. Violeta Bozhanova, Chair of Agricultural Academy; Mr. Viktor Eszterhai, Research Fellow, John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics, Hungary; Assoc. Prof. Atanas Georgiev, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sofia University; Dr. Long Jing, Centre for European Studies, Shanghai Institutes of International Studies; Mr. Alexandru Georgescu, Scientific Researcher, National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (Romania) – ICI Bucharest; Prof. Irena Ilieva, Director of the Institute for the State and Law, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Assoc. Prof. Teodora Peneva, Economic Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Assoc. Prof. Antonia Tsankova, Sofia University; Dr. Frosina Vitkovska, Associate Professor at School of Foreign Languages, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan; Mrs.Valentina Radulović, Executive Director of Science and Technology Park Montenegro.
The business panels featured a diverse group of speakers, including: Mr. Georgi Minchev, a producer of cosmetic products derived from Bulgarian rose oil; Mrs. Ivet Nikolova, Commercial Counsellor of the Bulgarian General Consulate in Shanghai; Mr. Vlad Gitsoaika, the official importer of China’s renowned Maotai liquor to Bulgaria and organizer of the Dragon Boat Festival in Bulgaria; Mr. Rosen Nedev, a manufacturer of healthy nut-based products; Ms. Teodora Gergova, CEO of a honey production company; Ms. Panka Shalamanova, Investor Relations Director of Bulgarian Rose Plc; Mr. Yulian Balchev, Chief Secretary of InvestBulgaria Agency; Mr. Dimitrios Michas, Minister Counselor of Commerce and Trade, Head of Economic and Commercial Affairs, Embassy of the Republic of Greece in Sofia; Mr. Viktor Goussev, Head of Investment & Business Development Department, Sofia Investment Agency; Ms. Desislava Doncheva, Chairwoman of the Bulgarian-Chinese Chamber for Industrial Development; Mr. Doru Dragomir, President of Bilateral Chamber of Commerce Bulgaria-Romania; Mr. Yasen Tanev, Cybersecurity Expert at EDIH-Trakia; Mr. Plamen Panchev, Executive Director of Trakia Economic Zone.
The Conference concluded with a panel dedicated to young entrepreneurs, featuring Ms. Gergana Stancheva, winner of the pilot Accelerator Program for start-ups in the field of agriculture between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe; Ms. Dzhansu Mehmedamin, winner of the first edition of Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture (held in Varna); Ms. Hristina Mihaylova, winner of the second edition of the Academy (held in Burgas) and Ms. Gergana Kermenova, winner of the third edition of the Academy, held in Plovdiv in December 2024.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all who honored the anniversary of APACCCEEC and participated in the International Conference.
