On 10th October 2024 the Consulate General of Bulgaria organized a commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the People’s Republic of China at the Musical corner of People’s Square subway station in Shanghai. The event was attended by the Vice President of Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC) Mr. Fu Jihong, the Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism Mr. Jin Lei, the Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Shanghai Shentong Metro Group Mr. Ge Shi Pin, Chinese and Bulgarian citizens.

In his speech the Consul General Vladislav Spasov congratulated the People’s Republic of China on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, recalled the history of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and their elevation to the current level of strategic partnership. He spoke about the sistership between Sofia and Shanghai and underlined the efforts of the Consulate General to further develop the ties between Bulgaria and Shanghai which is the second most important Chinese metropolis. The Shanghai Government has been successfully constructing it as an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and science and technology innovation center.

The Vice President of SPAFFC Mr. Fu Jihong recalled the traditional friendship between Bulgaria and China based on mutual trust and respect, as well as the development of bilateral ties in the areas of economy, culture and education. He highlighted the fruitful cooperation between the local authorities of Shanghai and Sofia conducted in areas such as municipal planning, youth exchanges and districts ties. He reconfirmed that SPAFFC will continue to play an active role for the promotion of friendly people-to-people exchanges between Bulgaria and China.

The 75th anniversary of bilateral relations was celebrated with piano performances of Bulgarian composers’ music by Mr. Vladimir Tzanev and Ms. Evgenia Goranova-Bermudez – graduates of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pantcho Vladigerov” and the Academy of Music, Dance and Visual Arts “Prof. Asen Diamandiev” – Plovdiv respectively, and the 9-year old Chinese musician Mi Zijing. The Bulgarian and Chinese audience admired the vocal performances of “One Bulgarian Rose” and the popular Chinese folksong “Mo Li Hua” by Mrs. Diane Gallardo de Tzanev.

The event was marked by the official opening of a photo exhibition presenting the beauty of Bulgaria. The aim of the Consulate General is to bring Bulgaria closer to Shanghai and its 25 million citizens. The photo exhibition was realized under the Plan-program of activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad in the field of public, cultural and digital diplomacy and strategic communications for 2024.

The exhibition is located at the People’s Square subway station which is the biggest central station of the Shanghai metro network, transfer hub of three metro lines, located in downtown Shanghai. The passenger flow is estimated to 300 000 people daily.

The exhibition will be in display till 22 October 2024.