The First Festival of Contemporary Chinese Cinema is held in Bulgaria.[Photo/hanban.edu.cn]

Chinese and Bulgarian officials here on Wednesday evening said 2014 had special significance for the development of bilateral relations, and the two states would deepen ties during the Year of the Goat.

"The just past 2014 has special significance for the development of relations between China and Bulgaria," Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Wei Jinghua said, addressing a Spring Festival reception organized by Bulgaria-China Forum (BCF).

In 2014, mutual political trust strengthened, economic cooperation maintained an upward growth, and human exchanges began to pursue a new course, Wei said at the event attended by Angel Orbetsov, head of the Asia, Australia and Oceania Directorate at the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, Chinese diplomats, and local business leaders.

Taking a look at 2015, new opportunities emerged for the development of relations between China and Bulgaria, the ambassador said.

China and Bulgaria would use these opportunities, stimulate the development of bilateral relations, and move forward together, Wei said.

Angel Marin, Chairman of BCF and former Bulgarian Vice President, said Bulgaria was sympathetic to the desire of its Chinese friends to fulfill their Chinese dream. It was in the interest of the prosperity of all mankind, he said.

He added that last Friday he attended the opening of the First Festival of Contemporary Chinese Cinema in Bulgaria, and the big hall of the Cinema House was overcrowded.

He had not seen such a crowded cinema hall for decades, Marin said.

It became apparent that the Bulgarians were thirsty for Chinese culture, and wanted to learn more about China, Marin added.