The chair of the National Assembly Mihail Mikov has delivered a lecture before the students of the Foreign Languages University of Beijing titled:” The open world and the bridges toward others”. Mihail Mikov has given as present to the University a 1000 books on behalf of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Rector, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and the Law literature Publishing House.

Mihail Mikov told students how envious he was for the advantages of their generation in regards to education, living in a world without borders, with an easy access to the achievements of human civilization.
He informed the audience that Bulgaria aims at developing the main sectors of its economy for the better future of Bulgarian citizens, currently emphasizing the reindustrialization in the transport infrastructure, the energy sector, the high technologies and the modern communications. Mihail Mikov has answered many students’ questions.

The speaker of the National Assembly and the delegation’s members conferred with the head of the University, Han Jhen, and with students from the Department for Bulgarian Studies. They were informed that the university teaches 58 foreign languages, including Bulgarian. Besides foreign languages the university teaches International Commerce, Law and Journalism. The total number of students is 7000, with 1000 students from abroad.

We try to educate students for future work in the fields of diplomacy, trade and cultural exchange, the University rector underscored. Han Jhen recalled that China had opened in Sofia its first Confucius  Institute  for the Balkans. Mihail Mikov has stated that the relations between the two countries were taking on new dimensions as a result of China’s policy aimed at opening and expanding its cooperation with the countries from Southeastern Europe.

Mihail Mikov said there are plans to open two joint cultural centers – one in Beijing, one in Sofia. The head of the Beijing’s university for foreign languages pleaded for his university to host the cultural center.

The president of the National Assembly, Mihail Mikov, has met with the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Yu Zhengsheng. The Chinese political consultative conference has 2200 members. Only 40 % of them are members of the communist party, the others are prominent businessmen and leaders who are supposed to promote new ideas, Yu Zhengsheng explained. He noted China perceives  Bulgaria as a nice country with rich cultural and historic heritage. He admitted though that Bulgaria is not yet enough known and needs further advertising to make it more popular. He said the number of Chinese tourists abroad in 2013 has reached 80 million and is expected to reach 100 million in the near future.

We know the rose oil, but there are also other Bulgarian products that are unique that we would like to get familiar with, Yu Zhengsheng further said. He noted that many Chinese students are educated in Bulgaria, where they particularly appreciate the education in music.

The two leaders agreed that closer cooperation between the specialized parliamentary committees of Bulgaria and the Chinese people’s Consultative Conference will contribute to the countries better knowing each other. We want as many Chinese as possible to visit Bulgaria and for this reason we have shortened the process of visa issuing, Mihail Mikov has stated. In his words while in Bulgaria, the Chinese tourists will not only experience the beautiful nature, the historic and cultural heritage of Bulgaria but also the hospitality and warmth of its people.

The head of Bulgaria’s parliament had underscored that Bulgaria is a small but stable country that has good relations with its neighbors, providing opportunities for successful common projects between Bulgaria and China and other countries neighboring Bulgaria.