Education minister Prof Georgi Valchev and French ambassador Marie Dumoulin have discussed closer co-operation in science and research, higher education and STEM teaching, the education ministry's press office said. They also talked about how to keep French in Bulgarian schools, and how to promote Bulgarian studies and Bulgarian literature in France.

Valchev said Bulgaria already has partnerships with many French universities. He wants both countries to encourage ties between universities so that they share facilities and experts.

The minister said one of the ministry's priorities in the coming years is to bring universities closer to the real economy. The ministry is counting on France's experience in this.

Valchev said the ministry's plans for more specialists in maths, physics, chemistry and biology will not come at the cost of broad humanities education. He believes that "the university must keep its role of shaping people with a wide outlook".

Dumoulin said France is Bulgaria's main EU partner in research and development. She called this an achievement but added that more can be done. Students and young scientists need to know more about EU options for mobility and career growth, she said, and to gain knowledge and skills that meet the needs of the economy.

Dumoulin asked how the ministry will expand STEM teaching. Valchev said there is a National STEM Centre in Sofia and regional centres in Shumen, Plovdiv and Blagoevgrad, where teacher training will take place. He said France's experience could help there.

The ambassador said she hopes that stronger French teaching will keep its place in Bulgarian schools alongside STEM.

On literature, Valchev pointed to the work of Prof Marie Vrinat, whose translations introduced French readers to a number of contemporary Bulgarian writers. Officials are now looking for ways to bring modern Bulgarian literature, written by a talented generation of authors, to more French readers. The minister hopes more specialists will work to promote it in France.

The ministry also said the two countries will keep working together to support Bulgarian Sunday schools in France. About 1,400 children attend them.

In July, deputy minister Prof Dr Eng Senya Terzieva spoke at the opening of the 19th annual conference of the Association of Bulgarian Schools Abroad, held in the great hall of Sofia University "St Kliment Ohridski". Terzieva said there are 401 Bulgarian Sunday schools in 43 countries on six continents, with almost 40,000 pupils. The state gives them more than €8m, and Terzieva said this support is one of the most successful Bulgarian state policies for working with the diaspora.