A delegation from Shanghai Jiao Tong University visited the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on June 5. The university is among the most prestigious higher education institutions in China as well as among the top 100 universities in the world, specializing in the teaching and development of engineering and STEM.
The Vice-President of BAS Prof. Emmanuel Moutafov presented the main directions of the Academy’s activities and the current mechanisms for the implementation of bilateral cooperation. The successful projects and initiatives between scientists from both countries were discussed by Prof. Denitsa Borisova and Prof. Ventzeslav Dimitrov from the Space Research and Technology Institute and Prof. Petar Nojarov from the Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research Institute.
Chairman of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Council Prof. Yang Zhenbin outlined to the Bulgarian scientists the opportunities for cooperation with the University. Chinese researchers are most interested in joint projects in the field of climate and environmental protection as well as space research. Various and flexible partnership and funding models were discussed.
During the meeting, emphasis was placed on building personal contacts between Bulgarian and Chinese scientists which could serve as a basis for broader cooperation through scientific visits, joint seminars and other initiatives. Examples of already established good practices were also shared. It was agreed that after exploring the interest for cooperation from the Chinese side, concrete actions would be taken to intensify the cooperation between BAS and the Shanghai University.
At the end of the conversation, Prof. Zhenbin presented the Vice-President with a crystal piece with an embedded golden plate of Jiao Tong University with the names of the heads of the delegations to be kept as a memento of their meeting at BAS.
The talks were also attended by the Director of the Global Cooperation and Exchange Division, Prof. Haitao Yin, by Ms. Martina Pittius from the Europe and Australia Partnership Office of the same Division of Jiao Tong University as well as by representatives of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bulgaria.
