Photo taken on Jan 19, 2015 shows the Bulgarian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book, The Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation, in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria.[Photo/Xinhua]

Almost three months after being published, the Bulgarian version of Chinese President Xi Jinping's book The Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation has emerged as a popular best-seller in the Balkan country.

The book was the first publication of a collection of speeches by a Chinese leader in decades in Bulgaria.

Furthermore, Bulgaria, the second country that recognized the People's Republic of China in October 1949, became the first country in the world to translate President Xi's book.

Luben Kozarev, president of the book's publisher East-West, told Xinhua it initially printed 1,500 copies, "which for Bulgaria is a very good circulation."

Stoil Panayotov, co-owner and sales manager of Helicon, the largest bookstore chain in Bulgaria, told Xinhua it has sold so far more than 50 copies of the book at one of its chain bookstores near the city center of Sofia, capital of Bulgaria.

He felt the book would be popular especially among Bulgaria's intellectuals who are curious to learn more about the Chinese growth story.

Marieta Arabadjieva, First Secretary in Asia, Australia and Oceania Directorate at the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry -- also one of the researchers of the book -- told Xinhua the fact that Bulgaria for the first time initiated and carried out its own translation of the book is proof of sincere friendship between the two countries.

In the last five years, she had the opportunity to live and work in China and observe the dynamic changes in the Chinese society in all spheres of political, economic and social life.

To her, the book is significant because it is "a vision that unites people for a great revival. It communicates this idea to the outside world as openly as possible in order to win supporters and partners."

"I think that the publication of this book in Bulgaria fulfills exactly this important goal -- to explain to the Bulgarian readers that the Chinese Dream is striving for peace and balance in the world, and that China is extending his hand for cooperation to achieve global peaceful development," she said.