From October 13 to 20, Zhang Chunxiang, Vice‑Secretary of the University Party Committee and President of the University, led a delegation from the university as part of the Chinese Higher Education Delegation to carry out educational exchange activities in Bulgaria and Serbia.
During its stay in Bulgaria, the delegation took part in the 2nd China‑Bulgaria University Presidents Forum. Zhang Chunxiang delivered a thematic speech on pragmatic China‑Europe scientific research cooperation and signed a friendship and cooperation agreement with Pleven Medical University. Representatives from more than 20 Bulgarian universities including Sofia University, Veliko Tarnovo University and Varna Medical University, along with government officials, education experts and scholars, gathered at the forum for exchanges and in‑depth discussions. Distinguished guests including Dai Qingli, Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria; Fu Bo, Deputy Secretary‑General of the China Education Association for International Exchange; Nikolay Vitanov, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Science of Bulgaria; Dimitar Dimitrov, Rector of the University of National and World Economy; and Miglena Temelkova, Chair of the Bulgarian Rectors’ Conference, attended the forum and delivered addresses.
While in Bulgaria, the delegation also held exchange activities at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv and Plovdiv Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts. The delegation learned about discipline development in agriculture, arts and other fields in Bulgaria to explore more channels for future cooperation.
In Serbia, the delegation attended the China‑Serbia University Presidents’ Conference. Jović, Assistant Minister of Serbia’s Ministry of Education; Sokolović, Assistant Minister of Serbia’s Ministry of Science and Technological Development; Li Ming, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia; and Fu Bo attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Nearly 80 university presidents from China and Serbia participated in the conference. Participants held discussions centering on such themes as "Deepening Pragmatic Scientific Research Cooperation", "Opportunities and Challenges for Two‑way Mobility of Faculty and Students", and "Digital Transformation of Higher Education".
The delegation visited the Belt and Road Institute in Belgrade and the University of Niš to gain insights into discipline development in fields including medicine and engineering in Serbia and identify more potential areas for cooperation.
This official visit to Bulgaria and Serbia strengthened educational ties with universities in the two countries and further advanced substantive and in‑depth educational cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
