Confucius Institute in Sofia celebrates Chinese New Year

Confucius Institute in Sofia on Thursday evening staged a festive show to celebrate the coming Chinese New Year in the Big Hall of its recently opened new building.

Children, who are studying Chinese language at the five schools in the Bulgarian capital, and their Chinese teachers, as well as soloists of Sofia Opera, sang and danced enthusiastically to the applause of over 250 spectators including Bulgarian Vice-President Margarita Popova and Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Wei Jinghua.

Meanwhile, books by Chinese authors and China-related photos and pictures were exhibited in the corridors of the hall.

"It is a great joy to gather together on nice and beautiful occasions, especially when a country with an ancient culture celebrates its New Year," Popova said addressing the event.

With great respect, Bulgaria will join in the celebration of the Chinese people, and together with them to find ways on how together can contribute to the mutual understanding, she said.

Wei, Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria, said he believes that the Confucius Institute in Sofia will increasingly play an important role in the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and China.

The teaching of Chinese language in Bulgaria began in the 1950s in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and it has become increasingly popular over the past three years with over 2,000 people studying Chinese in two Confucius Institutes, five universities and some 20 schools. Endit