From September 23, 2025 to September 25, 2025, at the invitation of the Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, President Yang Wanming of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) led a delegation on an official visit to Bulgaria. During his visit, President Yang attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the China Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference on the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Cooperation. During the visit, President Yang met with Natalia Kiselova, Speaker of Bulgarian National Assembly; Dragomir Stoynev, Deputy Speaker of Bulgarian National Assembly and Chairman of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group; Gabriel Volkov, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Youth and Sports Matters and Chairman of the Socialist Party's Youth Union; Radan Kanev, Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic Committee; Ivan Ivanov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Affairs; Yulia Likomanova-Mutafchieva, Governor of Veliko Tarnovo Region; and Zahari Zahariev, President of the Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road; as well as other representatives from the government, parliament, subnational organizations, and various friendship organizations. The two sides held in-depth discussions on ways to further deepen the traditional friendship between China and Bulgaria, strengthen exchanges between the legislative bodies, subnational governments, culture and youth, and promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of bilateral strategic partnership relations and China-EU relations. The discussions resulted in a positive consensus on these issues. Dai Qingli, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria, attended the related activities.
During the meeting, President Yang emphasized that Bulgaria was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. The two countries share a deep and enduring traditional friendship. In 2015, China and Bulgaria signed the intergovernmental cooperation agreement on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, opening a new chapter in their bilateral relationship. In 2019, President Xi Jinping and President Rumen Radev made the joint decision to elevate China-Bulgaria relations to a strategic partnership, setting the direction for the development of bilateral relations in the new era. The CPAFFC is committed to working with various sectors in Bulgaria to build communication platforms, enhance mutual understanding, continue the traditional friendship, explore new cooperation opportunities, and promote more mutually beneficial results in bilateral relations.
(President Yang Wanming meets with Dragomir Stoynev, Deputy Speaker of Bulgarian National Assembly)
(President Yang Wanming meets with Yulia Likomanova-Mutafchieva, Governor of Veliko Tarnovo Region)
Natalia Kiselova remarked that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 76 years ago, exchanges and cooperation between China and Bulgaria have deepened in various fields. Bulgaria is dedicated to further developing its relationship with China. This year, several high-ranking Bulgarian government officials, representatives from the legislature, and subnational government leaders have visited China, underscoring the importance Bulgaria places on strengthening practical cooperation with China. Dragomir Stoynev emphasized that developing positive, healthy, and stable China-Bulgaria relations aligns with the fundamental interests of two peoples. The Bulgarian Socialist Party's parliamentary group follows a policy of friendship toward China and is eager to promote exchanges and cooperation in economy and trade, investment, culture, education, and youth. Yulia Likomanova-Mutafchieva expressed Veliko Tarnovo's willingness to collaborate more closely with China in cultural heritage preservation, education, and tourism to support local economic and social development. Zahari Zahariev extended a warm welcome to President Yang's visit and expressed Bulgaria's hope to expand cooperation with China in multiple fields, strengthen the bonds of friendship, and benefit the two peoples through practical cooperation.
(China Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference held in Sofia)
In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the China Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference, President Yang highlighted that subnational cooperation is a key component of the China-Bulgaria strategic partnership and a strong pillar supporting bilateral relations. In the current global context, strengthening exchanges and cooperation between subnational governments is critical for driving economic and social development, addressing global challenges, and advancing reforms in global governance systems. As a concrete step to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, the timely convening of the China Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference in Bulgaria is highly significant. President Yang expressed hope that through this platform, subnational governments from both sides would further enhance mutual understanding, deepen exchanges and cooperation, align development strategies, and better serve the two peoples. He emphasized the importance of contributing wisdom and strength to the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as to the advancement of China-CEEC cooperation and China-EU relations.
Ambassador Dai Qingli noted that there is great potential for cooperation between China and Bulgaria in areas such as agricultural products, food, and new energy. Subnational governments from two countries should identify areas of alignment and transform their traditional friendship into concrete projects that benefit the two peoples.
Minister Ivanov remarked that Bulgaria is actively exploring commercial models for deepening cooperation with China. Both sides could prioritize cooperation in areas such as infrastructure renewal, water treatment, and smart city development.
Donka Mihailova, Vice President of the Bulgarian Cities Alliance and Mayor of Troyan, stated that Bulgaria is eager to use the successful holding of the China Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference as an opportunity to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between subnational governments at all levels and in various fields, advancing China-Bulgaria relations further.
The China Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference was co-hosted by the CPAFFC, the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, the Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, and the Bulgarian Cities Alliance. More than 130 distinguished guests, including heads and representatives from 12 Chinese provinces and cities, including Beijing, Jiangsu, Ningbo, Dalian, Hefei, Yangzhou, Xinyu, Ganzhou, Zhoukou, and Leshan, as well as heads and representatives from over 40 Bulgarian cities, including Ruse, Shumen, Vidin, and Kazanlak, participated in in-depth exchanges on the theme of "City Cooperation to Promote a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind." During the city salon, representatives from both sides shared their experiences in areas such as economy and trade, investment, infrastructure development, smart cities, new energy, agriculture, education, and health and wellness tourism, based on their respective development characteristics. At the opening ceremony, Yangzhou City of Jiangsu Province signed a Friendship City Cooperation Action Plan with Razgrad City for the period 2026–2028. Dalian, Hefei, Xinyu, and Leshan also signed friendship city intention agreements with Bulgarian cities.
