SOFIA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- An international conference on ecological civilization and sustainable development opened Tuesday in Sofia, Bulgaria, bringing together scientists from around the world.
Titled "Philosophical Foundations, Cultural Dimensions, and Societal Values of Ecological Civilization and Sustainable Development," the four-day event is hosted by the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPS-BAS), and co-organized by the Xinhua Institute and other institutions. Around 40 research reports from scholars representing 10 countries, including China, Bulgaria, the United States, are scheduled to be presented during the conference.
According to the organizers, the event explores the philosophical and cultural roots of ecological civilization and sustainable development across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. It examines how these ideas shape - and are shaped by - societal values, social cohesion, community identity and practices, as well as policy and governance frameworks supporting the green transition.
Emilia Chengelova, director of IPS-BAS, said at the opening ceremony that the ecological transition is not only a technical or policy challenge, but also a profound civilizational choice.
"Ecological civilization is a capacious concept," Chengelova said. "It must be tested by argument, informed by evidence, and enriched by dialogue between philosophy, the social sciences, and the natural sciences."
Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria Dai Qingli highlighted that traditional Chinese philosophy has long upheld the principles of "harmony between man and nature" and "following the laws of nature."
"Today, environmental issues have become global challenges," Dai said. "Climate change, biodiversity loss, and other pressing concerns increasingly threaten the material foundations on which humanity depends for survival and development. No country can remain unaffected. Achieving harmony between humans and nature, and balancing economic growth with ecological protection-these are pressing questions of our time that the entire world must confront together."
"We are ready to engage in active dialogue and deep cooperation with political, academic, and industrial communities worldwide to make new and greater contributions to protecting our shared home-planet Earth," she added.
Mariana Tian, scientific secretary of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, noted that challenges such as resource depletion, pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss are complex and multidisciplinary in nature, while scientific efforts often remain confined to separate fields.
"With the joint efforts of scientists from different disciplines and regions of the world, we can contribute to addressing today's global challenges and create a better future for the people of our planet," Tian said.
Vesselin Petrov, head of the Scientific Council of IPS-BAS, told Xinhua that Bulgaria, situated in the eastern part of the European Union, could serve as a bridge between Asia, particularly China, and the rest of Europe, making it an ideal meeting point for scholars from East and West. ■
