On 7 September was the official opening of the New Center of Confucius Institute at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria, Professor Todor Tanev,

Minister of Education and Science, Ms Vanya Kastreva, Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Associate Professor Dr. Roumyana Kolarova, secretary for education, science and civil society at the Presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria, Associate Professor Dr. Yanaki Stoilov, deputy chairman of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Bulgaria – China, the Rector of the Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Corresponding Member, Professor Ivan Ilchev.

Official guests from the Chinese party were Mrs Syu Lin, chief executive of Confucius Institute Headquarters and Director General of the Council for the International Dissemination of the Chinese Language at the Ministry of Education of China (Hanban), His Excellency Wei Dzinhua, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Han Jun, Chairperson of the University Council at Beijing University for foreign Languages, Nin Dzimin, Director of the Institute for International Education at Shandong University, the rectors of five Chinese high schools: Beijing University for Foreign Languages, the Chinese University of Mass Media and Communications, the North-western Pedagogical University, the University of Hong Kong, and the University of Shanghai of International Trade. Among those present were also directors of Confucius Centers in Europe, as well as lecturers, students and other guests.

In 2014 Sofia University provided Confucius Institute in Sofia with a separate area of ​​over 2000 square meters from its premises on 82 Al. Stambolijski boulevard to create there the New Center of Confucius Institute. The overall investment was of almost 2.5 million levs. The new structure of the Institute has specialized premises: classrooms, study rooms, language laboratories, a library with a reading room, an exhibition hall, a multifunctional conference hall, and a theater hall. The large scale reconstruction work has been carried out with the assistance of Sofia University and the Beijing University for Foreign Languages.

Confucius Institute in Sofia is the first on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the first in Eastern Europe. It was opened on 9th June, 2006 as a partnership organization between Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski and Beijing University for Foreign Languages with the support of the Council for the International Dissemination of the Chinese Language at the Ministry of Education of China (Hanban). Its activities were officially launched on 22 June, 2007. In view of the potential and the opportunities for development, in December, 2013, Confucius Institute at Sofia University was raised in status to a Model for the development of Confucius Institutes. It is only 14 of the 475 such institutes in the world that have been given such a status.

The photos are provided by Confucius Institute at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.

1. The event was opened by Professor Alexander Fedotov, honorary director of Confucius Institute and Director of the Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski.
2. Mrs Syu Lin, chief executive of Confucius Institute Headquarters and Director General of the Council for the International Dissemination of the Chinese Language at the Ministry of Education of China (Hanban).
3. The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Bulgaria - His Excellency Wei Dzunhua expressed his joy of the opening of the Model Confucius Institute in Sofia.