China and Bulgaria established a Luban Workshop on Oct 15. Its online launch ceremony was held simultaneously at Tianjin Agricultural University (TAU), Tianjin, China and Agricultural University—Plovdiv (AUP), Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 

Guests attend the opening ceremony of the Bulgarian Luban Workshop at TAU on Oct 15. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

Luban Workshops are named for Lu Ban (507-440 BC), a renowned Chinese craftsman and engineer. Initiated and implemented by Tianjin, they provide technical skill training for global college students, preparing them to find vocational work upon graduation.

The Bulgaria workshop, which started construction in November 2019, is hosted by TAU, Tianjin Economics & Trade School(TETS) and AUP and focuses on agriculture.

The workshop, covering 1,600 square meters, has four professional laboratories covering agricultural biotechnology, intelligent equipment, e-commerce platform operation and commodity information collection, as well as three training bases in the Bulgarian branch of Tianjin Food Group (TFG).

Master's degrees in agricultural engineering and crop science and bachelor's degrees in cross-border e-commerce are being offered to cultivate Bulgarian technical talents who are familiar with Chinese technology, products and craftsmanship and to promote local agriculture. 

Hristina Yancheva, President of AUP, delivers a speech. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

During the ceremony, Hristina Yancheva, President of AUP, expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government, enterprises and schools for their support and contributions to the project, which will greatly promote Bulgaria's vocational education and lay a solid foundation for scientific and educational cooperation between the two sides.

Dong Xiaojun, Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria, delivers a speech. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria Dong Xiaojun congratulated the completion of the workshop. He believed that it was an important result of the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit, which will open a new chapter of China-Bulgaria agricultural and educational cooperation.

Hristo Bozukov, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Bulgaria, delivers a speech. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

Bulgarian Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Hristo Bozukov said the establishment of the Bulgarian Luban Workshop will boost collaboration between Bulgaria and China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and China-CEEC cooperation initiative.

Velichko Rodopski, vice mayor of Plovdiv, delivers a speech. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

Vice mayor of Plovdiv Velichko Rodopski said that Plovdiv, the second largest city in Bulgaria, established a relationship with Tianjin over 30 years ago. The project will continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields.

Dong (R) and Hristina Yancheva jointly unveil the Luban Workshop. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

TAU, TETS, AUP, and the Bulgarian branch of TFG sign a four-party cooperation agreement. [Photo by Li Bentian and Wang Yuhang]

Dong and Hristina Yancheva jointly unveiled the Luban Workshop and the TAU, TETS, AUP, and the Bulgarian branch of TFG signed a four-party cooperation agreement.

The project will play an important role in academic and vocational education, advance cooperation to a higher level and expand ties to broader fields, as well as improve technical skills and economic and social development among Central and Eastern European countries.  

It is also expected to help Chinese-funded enterprises' human resources go global and build a friendship bridge for exchanges and common development between China and Central and Eastern Europe.