Bulgarian delegation visits Ningbo village to explore cooperation

Zahari Zahariev experiences traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis in Xiaomen village, Ningbo, on Sept 6. [Photo/Yongpai app]

A Bulgarian delegation visited Xiaomen village in Ningbo's Beilun district on Sept 6 to learn about its rural development initiatives and explore cooperation in herbal cultivation, wellness tourism, and community services.

Led by Zahari Zahariev, chairman of the Bulgaria National Association for the Belt and Road, the delegation toured the village's museum of local wartime history and a traditional Chinese medicine herb-growing base. The group also learned about Xiaomen's programs for elderly residents and children.

Located in a coastal, hilly area, Xiaomen has developed herbal cultivation, rural tourism, and community services alongside its cultural heritage. The village provides annual financial support for elderly residents and scholarships for students, while turning unused buildings and spaces into facilities including wellness homestays and workshops for local employment.

The visit also highlighted potential links with Bulgaria's rose and lavender industries. Both parties agreed to explore cooperation in herb cultivation, wellness tourism, and related standards, as well as identify a partner village in Bulgaria for joint projects. 

They will also establish rural observation sites and prepare a multilingual introduction to Xiaomen's development experience for exchanges between China and Central and Eastern Europe.

The visit was part of efforts to deepen practical cooperation between Ningbo and Bulgaria at the grassroots level.