20260615 Confucius Institute in Sofia and Sixth Primary School Reached Cooperation Agreement

On June 15, Savina Rangelova-Ignatova, Principal of the Sixth Primary School “Count N.P. Ignatiev” (hereinafter referred to as the Sixth Primary School of Sofia), visited the Confucius Institute in Sofia. The Bulgarian Director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, Aksiniya Koleva, and the Chinese Director, Chen Ying, received the guest. The two sides held talks on future cooperation in Chinese language teaching and reached an agreement on collaboration.

During the meeting, Savina Rangelova-Ignatova introduced the current development of the school. She noted that, according to the school's preliminary survey, nearly 140 students have already expressed an interest in learning Chinese and that the school hopes to receive support and assistance from the Confucius Institute in Sofia.

Drawing on the Institute’s teaching staff resources for the next academic year and the school’s demand for Chinese language instruction, the Chinese and Bulgarian Directors put forward specific suggestions regarding future class arrangements, course-hour allocation, and teacher staffing, and outlined a long-term development plan for Chinese language teaching at the school.

After extensive discussions, both sides agreed to officially launch Chinese language teaching in the autumn semester of 2026 and to jointly organize cultural exchange activities between Bulgaria and China.

Founded in 1899, the Sixth Primary School of Sofia is recognized by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science as an innovative school. This cooperation will bring new cultural vitality to this century-old institution and further broaden students’ international horizons.

Source: Confucius Institute in Sofia

Text and photos: Li Xinmei

Reviewers: Chen Ying, Aksiniya Koleva, Ding Chen

English translation: Dima Pironkova