On the afternoon of July 1, 2024, Prof. Virginia Zhelyazkova and Asst. Prof. Nedyalko Nestorov from the Economic Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (ERI-BAS) were invited by the School of Economics of NKU to deliver academic reports, celebrating the 105^th anniversary of the founding of NKU. This academic event was presided over by Prof. Jiang Dianchun, Vice Dean of the School of Economics, and attended by over 20 faculty members and students from the School in a conference room on the 10^th floor of a building at the School.

Asst. Prof. Nedyalko Nestorov took the lead and gave a speech on “Digitalisation in the European Union”. His research mainly focuses on the relationships among foreign trade, innovative business practices, and economic growth. Revolving around the European Union (EU)’s “Digital Decade (2020–2030)”, he elaborated on the EU’s current average and goal of digital transformation in 2030 in four dimensions—digital skills of infrastructure, business, government, and the public. He comprehensively showed the EU’s dynamic scenes in its current digital transformation from every aspect.

Prof. Virginia Zhelyazkova delivered a speech on “ESG Risk Management in the EU Corporate Governance Agenda”. During her speech, she delved into several essential ESG topics in finance, using commercial banks as an example. These topics included exploring ESG ideas and implementation principles, highlighting the significance of fostering employee awareness and engagement, and discussing approaches to linking ESG with company performance in corporate governance. Prof. Virginia Zhelyazkova also serves as a professor at VUZF University in Sofia, one of the leading private business colleges in Bulgaria, and the Environmental and Social Affairs Coordinator of the third largest bank in the country—Postbank. Her vivid speech struck a balance between theoretical concepts and actual cases, showcasing her expertise in multiple fields, such as academic research, think tank studies, and business practices.

During a discussion session, attendees had a full, in-depth, and constructive discussion with the two Bulgarian scholars on their speech.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria, and the 105^th anniversary of the founding of NKU. Actively propelled by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Bulgaria, the School of Economics and the ERI-BAS officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 27, 2024, and held the Online MOU Launch Ceremony and the First Webinar on May 22, 2024. This time, the School of Economics invited two scholars from the ERI-BAS to visit NKU, which has further deepened both side’s consensus on cooperation and expanded fields of academic research for exchanges.