SOFIA - A feast of Chinese culture organized by the Confucius Institute in Sofia was held in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" on Wednesday afternoon.

Traditional Lion dance opened the event at the university campus, followed by a short lecture on Chinese culture and performances of Chinese songs, gymnastics and martial arts into the university Ceremonial Hall, applauded by hundreds of spectators.

A quiz with questions of Chinese culture and tasting Chinese meals such as steamed dumplings and spring rolls were the last two elements of this spectacular celebration.

Liu Yonghong, cultural counselor at the Chinese embassy in Sofia, said China and Bulgaria unleashed widespread cooperation and achieved apparent success in culture, education and youth fields in 2011 and 2012.

Great opportunities for increasingly comprehensive deepening of bilateral cooperation were outlined for this and next few years, he said.

Prof. Albena Chavdarova, Vice-rector of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" said the university and Confucius Institute in Sofia were among the first who laid the foundations of cultural interaction between Bulgaria and China.

Prof. Alexander Alexiev, Bulgarian Director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia, said that close relations between China and Bulgaria and deepening of dialogue between people, were an important element for the future of the two countries in the context of the globalizing world.

They had to build more and more multifaceted cultural links, actively develop cooperation between students, teachers, scientists, and continue to be mutually interested in language, literature, culture, history, thought and the value system of the other, he said.