Published on: June 29, 2026 Source: China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone
On June 23 local time, the China-CEEC Global Partnership Center Annual Meeting and International Symposium on "China-CEEC Cooperation in the New Era" were successfully held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, co-hosted by the China Institute of International Studies and Sofia University. The Center for Chinese Economy and Politics at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University officially took over as the Bulgarian chair unit of the China-CEEC Global Partnership Center. Ambassador Chen Guoyou, Special Representative of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for China-CEEC Cooperation, Ambassador Dai Qingli of China to Bulgaria, Liu Feitao, Vice President of the China Institute of International Studies, and Professor Borankova, Vice Rector of Sofia University, delivered speeches respectively. Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Dimitar Dimitrov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Polendakov sent congratulatory letters to the event. About 50 scholars from China and Central and Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Slovenia, and Croatia, participated in the event.
Special Representative Chen Guoyou stated that China-CEEC cooperation is an important undertaking initiated and advanced together by China and Central and Eastern European countries. Over the past 14 years, both sides have consistently upheld the principles of mutual respect, consensus-based and voluntary participation, and openness and inclusiveness, building a powerful engine for development, delivering tangible dividends that benefit the people, and setting a successful example of cross-regional cooperation. At present, China is advancing Chinese-style modernization through high-quality development and high-level opening-up. China is willing to work with Central and Eastern European countries to enhance the stability of China-EU relations through the certainty and maturity of China-CEEC cooperation.
Ambassador Dai Qingli noted that Bulgaria has been an active contributor to China-CEEC cooperation, with sound bilateral relations and close economic exchanges, and there is potential for further deepening cooperation. The China-CEEC Global Partnership Center, which originated during the Sofia Leaders' Summit in 2018, has now "returned to Bulgaria" and will build a more practical platform for exchanges and cooperation among think tanks, enterprises, and local governments between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
In his congratulatory letter, Bulgarian Minister of Tourism Dimitar Dimitrov pointed out that Bulgaria maintains friendly relations with China and other Central and Eastern European countries, and developing partnerships in economy, education, culture, innovation, and tourism will not only help drive economic growth but also enhance mutual trust among nations. He expressed hope that the China-CEEC Global Partnership Center would make greater contributions to enhancing mutual understanding and exploring new opportunities for cooperation.
In his congratulatory letter, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Polendakov stated that establishing balanced and mutually beneficial relations serves the common interests of Central and Eastern European countries and China. Bulgaria is committed to building a more resilient partnership with China and exploring potential for cooperation in trade, investment, digitalization, transportation, and green energy. He expressed hope that the China-CEEC Global Partnership Center would serve as a bridge for enhancing understanding, inspiring ideas, and addressing urgent global issues through communication and cooperation.
Vice President Liu Feitao pointed out that China-CEEC cooperation, with its pragmatic approach and commitment to win-win cooperation, has achieved fruitful results benefiting all parties over 14 years of robust growth. The stable political relations and close economic cooperation between China and Bulgaria, along with China's 15th Five-Year Plan, will bring more development opportunities to Central and Eastern European countries, including Bulgaria. As the dual chair units of the China-CEEC Global Partnership Center, the China Institute of International Studies will work together with Sofia University to make the center a strong promoter of think-tank exchanges and an active driver of practical cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
Vice Rector Borankova said that in an era of rapid change, objective analysis based on detailed data has become an important strategic and institutional reference for all countries, which is precisely the vital mission of the China-CEEC Global Partnership Center. The symposium covers a wide range of topics, including economic and trade relations, investment environments, and infrastructure construction, which will help promote regional and global stability and prosperity and advance sustainable development cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China.
Experts and scholars from China and Central and Eastern European countries engaged in in-depth discussions on China-EU relations under the new circumstances and new opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation.
The China-CEEC Global Partnership Center was officially inaugurated during the 8th China-CEEC Leaders' Summit in 2019. It aims to provide policy recommendations and intellectual support for practical China-CEEC cooperation through think-tank exchanges, joint research, and enterprise training. The center operates under a dual-chair system, with the China Institute of International Studies serving as the Chinese chair unit and the Center for Chinese Economy and Politics at the Faculty of Economics of Sofia University serving as the Bulgarian chair unit.
