Bulgarian-Chinese Cooperation at Local Level Cover Image

Българо-китайско сътрудничество на местно ниво
Bulgarian-Chinese Cooperation at Local Level

Author(s): Jianjun Tian, Mariana Tian
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Geopolitics
Published by: Великотърновски университет „Св. св. Кирил и Методий”
Keywords: Bulgarian-Chinese cooperation; twinning; Plovdiv;

Summary/Abstract: The introduction briefly traces the existing legal framework on the basis of which bilateral agreements were signed. The study is according to the dynamically changing international situation, in which the legal framework of Bulgarian-Chinese relations at the local level is constantly updated by signing new friendship and twinning agreements, which are of mutual interest for both parties. The first part of the study focuses on the contact between Bulgaria and China at the national level, carried out by the Federation for Bulgarian-Chinese Friendship, the Bulgaria-China Friendship Group at the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the local Bulgarian-Chinese friendship societies established in different cities and regions in our two countries, as well as by groups and associations for Bulgarian-Chinese friendship between pupils and students from Bulgaria and China. Emphasis is placed on specific mutual meetings at the local level, where exchanges views on the development and prospects of Bulgarian-Chinese cultural and economic cooperation, as well as on educational exchange between the two twinned regions, and much of the negotiations end with the signing of treaties and agreements. in chronological order the twinning of the city of Plovdiv and the region with Chinese partners at the local level, including those from Tianjin 天津; Changchun 长春; Yunnan 云南; Shenzhen 深圳; Ningbo 宁波; Qingdao 青岛, mutual visits, joint activities in different fields were followed – spiritual, economic, investment, sports, educational, tourism and media, etc.; the signing of cooperation and exchange agreements and the results are systematized. In conclusion, based on the presented facts, the reasons for the Chinese investment interest in Plovdiv, which is the most preferred Bulgarian city for „twinning“ with Chinese cities and regions, are analyzed.