Narrative
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Project narrative
On 23 May 2017, the China Ministry of Agriculture and Bulgaria Ministry of Agriculture signed a joint statement to launch the first agricultural demonstration zone between China and the Central and Eastern European countries. The original memorandum of understanding was signed between China and Bulgaria in 2017. The agricultural demonstration zone was launched at the Agricultural University of Plovdiv. The cooperation will focus on agricultural scientific research, development of agricultural machinery, planting, breeding, and improving the supply chain. The "16 + 1" framework is the basis for the cooperation agreement. China and Bulgaria will support the construction of the demonstration zone in terms of policies, manpower, materials, and funds. The demonstration zone is a result of talks between Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, which took place in Sofia in 2016. On 24 November 2017 construction of the agricultural demonstration zone had been completed. The maintenance of the building will be funded by the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and through donations.