The Chinese delegation under the joint project with the ISL visited Asenovgrad

A delegation from China visited Asenovgrad. The guests arrived on a visit to the town at the invitation of the Deputy Mayor of the municipality, Dr Tenyo Manolov, and with the assistance of Assoc. Prof. Atanas Vladikov of Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv, led by the Director of the Institute for the State and the Law (ISL) of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS), Prof. Irena Ilieva, PhD. On the Bulgarian side, the delegation also included Assoc. Prof. Mariana Tien, PhD, of the ISL-BAS. The delegation from the People's Republic of China (PRC) consisted of Prof. Jia Ruixia (project leader); Prof. Kong Tianping (Deputy Director of the Institute of European Studies); Chen Xiyang (Assistant, Research Fellow); Zhang Chenyang (Assistant, PhD) and Han Meng (Assistant, Research Fellow, PhD). They are scholars from the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). The visit takes place within the framework of the joint project between the ISL and the Institute of European Studies entitled "Bulgaria and China in Eurasian Connectivity Projects". It is the first project between Bulgaria and China to be carried out on the topic of the "Green Transition". The topic is a global issue that will remain on the agenda for a long time to come.

The aim of the visit was to exchange experience and good practices in the use of renewable energy sources – a topic that brings together Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union (EU), and the People's Republic of China. Such projects have been implemented in Asenovgrad at the municipal level. The town's hospital and library are already equipped with photovoltaic systems.

During the meeting, Dr Manolov informed the guests about the steps that Asenovgrad Municipality is taking to improve the energy efficiency of municipal buildings. During their visit to the administration, the guests from the People's Republic of China became acquainted with the functions of the "Information Centre" and with the service provided to citizens. The Chinese delegation briefly attended the latest session of the Municipal Council in the municipality's council chamber. The guests took a close look at the building of the Paisii Hilendarski City Library, as well as at the photovoltaic power plant itself. This was followed by a visit to the yard of the Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment (MBAL) – Asenovgrad, where the other photovoltaic installations, set up under a municipal project, are located.

As part of the cultural programme, the delegation visited the town's emblematic monument of culture, Asen's Fortress. The guests from the People's Republic of China said that they were extremely pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome. They are delighted with Asenovgrad, its infrastructure and the attitude of its residents. They had the opportunity to taste the stuffed vine leaves (sarmi) of Stanimaka, traditional for the region, and to sip the famous Asenovgrad Mavrud wine.

Source: Asenovgrad Municipality