31.10.2025 / New horizons for cooperation between Bulgaria and China: a four-sided Memorandum was signed with the participation of APACCCEEC
On October 31, 2025, APACCCEEC signed a four-sided Memorandum with Trakia Economic Zone (TEZ), Shandong Agricultural University and Xinfa Group. From the Bulgarian side the Memorandum was signed by Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Director of APACCCEEC and Mr. Plamen Panchev, Executive Director of TEZ. From the Chinese side, the Memorandum was signed by Prof. Hai Lin, Vice – President of Shandong Agricultural University and Mr. Donglin Bai, CEO of Xinfa Group.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides joint cooperation between the four sides, including exchanges of visits and experts, as well as mutual participation in entrepreneurship events and programs. Under the Memorandum, the parties will exchange up-to-date information and will organize joint topical seminars (online, hybrid, offline) and working meetings.
The Memorandum was signed on the basis of an online meeting held on September 29, 2025, at which the four-party cooperation between APACCCEEC, TEZ, the Chinese company Xinfa Group, and Shandong Agricultural University was discussed.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Momchil Stanishev, with Mr. Plamen Panchev and Mr. Emil Yankov, Business Development Manager, representing TEZ. The Shandong Agricultural University was represented by Ms. Xue Dongming, Deputy Director of the Department for International Cooperation and Exchange.
At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Momchil Stanishev presented the brief history, activities, and initiatives of APACCCEEC. He emphasized Bulgaria’s attractiveness for foreign investments and noted that earlier this year, representatives of Shandong Agricultural University had the opportunity to visit the APACCCEEC Hub for Agricultural and Other Products in Trakia Economic Zone.
Mr. Plamen Panchev shared detailed information about TEZ, its new projects, and investments from China. Mr. Emil Yankov, Business Development Manager, presented in detail the company, the industrial zones it has developed, the investments made in them by Bulgarian and foreign companies, as well as the services that TEZ provides to future investors. He also shared more information about the investment of a Chinese company in the zone, which is in the field of manufacturing aluminum parts for the automotive industry.
The representative of Shandong Agricultural University, Ms. Xue Dongming, focused on the history and activities of the university. She emphasized the ongoing cooperation between APACCCEEC and Shandong Agricultural University in the joint organization of the 2025 Council Meeting of China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance in June. Ms. Xue Dongming summarized the main outcomes of the Alliance meeting.
The signed Memorandum of Understanding is a strong foundation for intensive future partnership in the field of modern agriculture and intensifying the contacts between the four sides.
