The immense Chinese culture captivated us in the eve of the event with the magic of the Red Dress spectacle. A beautiful story about the power of love, narrated on the 22nd of November on the stage of the Ivan Vazov National Theater.

The Chinese artists created a wonderful fairy of colours, music and dances, which at the end managed to make the audience stand on their feet. Great applause and a scene full of flowers marked a wonderful start.

The solemn opening ceremony of the China Cultural Center (CCC) took place the next day - the 23rd of November. The new 8-floored building on 77 Georgi S. Rakovski str. will be the place where we will enjoy our meetings with the Chinese culture. Sofia is already one of the most privileged cities in the world with such a cultural oasis.

At present, China has 32 cultural centers abroad, 13 of which are in Europe - Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Spain, Macedonia, Romania, Russia, France, the Netherlands and Sweden; 10 in Asia - Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Japan; 5 in Africa: Benin, Egypt, Mauritius, Nigeria, Tanzania; 3 in Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and 1 in Latin America - Mexico.

In the invitation to the CCC's opening, Mr. GU Hongxing- Cultural Affairs Advisor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, said on behalf of the director of the China Cultural Center in Sofia:

"The China Cultural Center in Sofia is the result of the unwavering friendship between China and Bulgaria over the last 68 years since the establishment of our diplomatic relations and the strong aspirations of the two nations to further develop this existing foundation and mutual understanding.

Intercultural dialogue is an effective driving mechanism to bring the hearts of two different peoples into one. The China Cultural Center in Sofia, established in accordance with the bilateral agreement between China and Bulgaria for reciprocal creation of cultural centers, will embark on its mission to serve as a bridge, as a window and as a platform where our cultures will be exchanged and valued so as to strengthen a deeper connection between our two nations. "

The opening of the Center was attended by a number of officials from both sides who spoke about its importance.

Zhang Xu, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Culture of China said:

"Bulgaria is the second country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with New China. China and Bulgaria are old friends that have endured the trials of time, but also new partners looking towards the future. In recent years, thanks to the general attention and active support of the governments and the various public circles of both countries, bilateral relations have developed steadily on the basis of mutual respect and equality. Mutual political trust and proximity between the people of the two countries are continually deepening, while cultural exchanges and co-operation have given significant results.

Bulgaria is also called the "Garden of Eden", attracting a large number of Chinese tourists every year. Bulgarian folk dances are very popular among Chinese audiences. Both China and Bulgaria have a wonderful, diverse culture and hardworking and wise people. Both countries have great potential and extensive prospects for cultural exchange and cooperation.

Bulgaria is an important country in the One Belt, One Road initiative. China attaches great importance to the mutual building of cultural centers between the two countries. In January 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding on the reciprocal opening of cultural centers in both countries was signed in the presence of the President of the People's Republic of China and the then President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev. In November 2015, on the forum of the Ministers of Culture of China, Central and Eastern Europe, the Chinese Minister Luo Shugang and the Bulgarian Minister Boil Banov signed an agreement on the mutual opening of cultural centers. Today, the establishment of the Chinese Cultural Center in Sofia marks a new stage in cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries, opening a new page in the development of cultural ties between China and Bulgaria. On this occasion, I would like to thank the Bulgarian Government, and in particular the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, the Sofia Municipality and the Oborishte district for their valuable support and assistance in the creation of China Cultural Center.

Only when the hearts are connected, the spaces can be overcome. Cultural exchange has a unique and irreplaceable role in removing barriers, deepening the mutual understanding and the spiritual communication between people. At the recently held 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping noted that China should intensify cultural exchanges with all countries around the world. We will actively cooperate with Bulgaria to establish the China Cultural Center in Sofia as a platform for cultural cooperation and sharing between China and Bulgaria. We will make a new contribution to enhancing traditional friendship and spiritual communication. We are looking fowrard for Bulgaria to open its cultural center in China as soon as possible".

On behalf of the Bulgarian side, the Minister of Culture Boil Banov also stressed the importance of the event and expressed his confidence by saying that "In this wonderful center we will always have exciting encounters with the most significant examples of the Chinese culture.

Allow me to express my confidence that the Bulgarian audience will welcome with great interest the encounters with the art of China, because getting acquainted with Chinese culture is an unforgettable experience that leaves rich and lasting impressions on everyone.

I also hope that a Bulgarian cultural center will be opened in Beijing as soon as possible and will become an important regional unit for conducting a more active and coordinated Bulgarian cultural policy in the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

On the eve of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2018, I would like to emphasize that the opening of the China Cultural Center in Sofia is also one of the priorities of our presidency for an EU strategic approach to culture as an important tool in international relations.

I wish to the China Cultural Center team a lot of health, success, creative challenges and a good future for all their initiatives!

I am convinced that with a joint effort, soon this wonderful center will become and affirm itself as an integral part of the cultural landscape of our capital.

It is a historically proven truth that culture is what stays behind us when everything else is forgotten!"

Wan Yawei, member of the Permanent Council of the Communist Party of China in Ningbo and Director of Publicity, stressed that this was a long awaited event and he was honored to take part in it as a representative of Ningbo's administration. In fact, this is the city that will support the functioning of the center in Sofia. He wished to the team successful work; and briefly presented Ningbo. The city is located in the coastal zone of the East China Sea, on an area of ​​200 thousand square kilometers and has over 7.8 million people. About a thousand years ago, when the so-called Silk Road started from China, Ningbo Port turned into one of the cornerstones of this important transport corridor. The president of the PRC calls it the "living fossil on which history is printed". "Currently, Ningbo harbors over 200 international shipping lines linking over 600 ports. In recent years, Ningbo has been actively involved in the Chinese government's initiative One Belt, One Road; and the China-Central Europe Initiative (16 + 1). Ningbo is the first Chinese city to engage with cities from all 16 countries..."

Finally, Wan Yawei finished with a wish-invitation towards the guests of the event: "I hope you will have the opportunity to come to Ningbo City, see our port, which is the largest freight in the world; to see our unique library, which is the oldest preserved one in the world; and to taste our famous specialties, which we also brought here for this celebration".

The mayor of SofiaYordanka Fandakova also emphasized on the importance of the new cultural space for Sofia. She reminded us that the Silk Road was passing through our city too. She expressed her hope for the cultural center to contribute to the development of the relations between the two nations and to help more Bulgarian citizens get acquainted with the Chinese culture.

H. E. Pr. Mr. Zhang Haizhou, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentary of China in Bulgaria, stressed: "We will never forget that your country was the second to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with us ..." He also said that with the opening of the center there is "a very good perspective for the cultural exchange between China and Bulgaria. Both countries have multi-year history, civilizations. Therefore, the exchange can be very strong. And the Cultural Institute will play an important role in this direction, especially in the field of literature. Many Chinese authors are being translated into Bulgarian, while Bulgarian books are already being searched for in China. Within the "16 + 1" collaboration, many links have already been created. We expect more and more Bulgarian artists to visit China in the future".

The director of the Chinese Cultural Institute Tu Xuesong expressed his intention for the Center to gain a rich and meaningful program: exhibitions, shows, musical performances, film screenings, even culinary courses. "We want Bulgarians to get to know China through our activities" he said. He also shared his first impressions from Bulgaria and its capital: "Compared to the glamour of Western Europe and the dynamic life in the United States, it is difficult for the real beauty of a country like Bulgaria to be realized within a few days. The first thing that fascinates me is the Bulgarian cuisine. And as far as Sofia is concerned, it is a city rich in history and culture, and at the same time very fashionable. I really hope more and more people will see the beauty of your capital".

After the official part, all guests had the opportunity to explore the new cultural asset of the capital and enjoy the Chinese intangible cultural heritage. They participated in a Chinese tea ceremony, visited the ateliers where masters showed paper cut, calligraphy, embroidery; they saw different exhibitions, heard traditional Chinese music ... While at the cocktail party they had the opportunity to try out the famous specialties of Ningbo. Finally, each guest left with an exquisite gift as a souvenir - a handmade ceramic artwork from Ningbo's Master of Ningbo Arts and Crafts - the artist Sun Maihua.

Sofia has indeed witnessed a rare cultural event.

Photos: "Diplomatic Spectrum"

On them - moments from the opening