Representatives of 11 Chinese and Bulgarian organizations such as the Sofia-based University of Transport, Bulgaria's National Railway Infrastructure Company, and China's Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo Municipality, as well as the Secretariat for Cooperation between China and CEE countries inked the founding document.

The research center is to act as a think tank specializing in consulting services in the field of transport infrastructure for CEE countries, University of Transport rector Daniela Todorova said at the signing ceremony.

Meanwhile, Wan Yawei, head of publicity department of Ningbo, a major port and industrial hub in east China, said he believed the center would become an important platform for promoting and expanding investment cooperation between Ningbo and Bulgarian businesses, as well as more general Sino-Bulgarian cooperation and exchange.

Velik Zanchev, Bulgaria's deputy minister of transport, information technology and communications, also said that the establishment of the center was a new step in the development of relations between Bulgaria and China.

"I am convinced that it will be beneficial for both countries," said Zanchev.