12.10.2023 / The Director of the APACCCEEC participated in a discussion forum that marked 10 years of the Belt and Road Initiative
On 12th October, the Director of APACCCEEC, Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Ph. D, participated in a discussion forum organized by the Chinese Media Group in Bulgaria (CMG) in cooperation with the Bulgarian-Chinese Chamber for Industrial Development (BCCID). The discussion forum, titled “The correlation between science and business – good practices and perspectives in the relations between Bulgaria and China” took place in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative at the China Cultural Center building in Sofia.
The Director of APACCCEEC took part in the discussion by presenting the topic: “Two Initiatives: Many Opportunities”, in which he pointed out the advancements made as a result of the Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, and reviewed the opportunities for economic growth and cooperation between the countries. Dr. Stanishev presented the mission and vision of the APACCCEEC, as well as some of the main projects developed by the Association, namely the International Scientific-Practical Conference „10 years Cooperation, Exchange and Connectivity between China and CEE countries”, the Accelerator Program for start-ups in the field of agriculture between China and the countries of CEE, as well as the APACCCEEC’s frequent participation in international exhibitions and initiatives that support the real sector of the economy and entrepreneurs. The Director of APACCCEEC specifically emphasized the beneficial cooperation between Bulgaria and China in the education sector, pointing out the importance of the symbiotic relationship between science, business and state administrations.
The discussion began with opening statements from Mrs. Iveta Balevska – the official correspondent of Radio China for Bulgaria and Mrs. Xia Fanglei – Head of the CMG Bulgarian editorial office. H. E. Mr. Dong Xiaojun, the Ambassador of the PRC to Bulgaria, made a statement noting that projects under the two main initiatives, such as the Agricultural University of Plovdiv’s Luban Workshop, the Demonstration Zone of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the CEE Countries, among others, have been vital to Bulgaria’s economic development.
Assoc. Prof. Deyan Stratev, Ph. D. – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, as well as Mr. Nikolay Pavlov – Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry, expressed their support for the Initiative for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries, which have continued to support business and science. Mr. Georgi Sabev, Advisor for Agriculture, Fisheries and International Relations in the European Parliament and former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, also took part in the discussion forum, examining the prospects and challenges within the international trade relations between China and the EU, as well as the bilateral ones between Bulgaria and China.
In regard to the good practices in science and business between the two countries, presentations and speeches were made by: Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of the University of National and World Economy, who presented the opportunities for cooperation between Bulgarian and Chinese higher education institutions; Prof. Dr. Denitsa Borisova – Scientific Secretary of the Space Research and Technology Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Chief Assistant Teodora Peneva from the Institute for Economic Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Ivo Hristov, Ph. D. – international commentator; Prof. Ekaterina Bachvarova – Director of the Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and others.
