site.btaNational Assembly Chairperson, Foreign Minister Confer with Visiting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh

Sofia, July 4 (BTA) - The opportunities for developing the parliamentary exchange, and the economic and commercial ties between Bulgaria and Vietnam were high on the agenda of a meeting Wednesday between National Assembly Chairperson Tsveta Karayancheva and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, the National Assembly said in a press release.

Pham Binh Minh is on a visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Karayancheva said that the relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam and between the two countries' parliaments have a long history and are traditionally good. She said that the parliamentary cooperation can be developed in the area of exchange of expertise between the different parliamentary committees.

The guest too noted the traditionally good relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam. He said that untapped potential exists in the economic ties, noting that the commercial exchange between the two countries totals 100 million U.S. dollars, which he described as a modest amount.

Pham Binh Minh said that Vietnam has very good relations with the EU and has ended the negotiations on a free trade agreement. He called on the Bulgarian Parliament to assist for the speedy signing of the agreement.

Karayancheva too spoke about the untapped potential in the commercial exchange.

Chairman of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Group in Parliament Valeri Zhablyanov said that the agreement between the EU and Vietnam is in Bulgaria's interest and that the MPs will support its ratification.

Later on Wednesday Zaharieva conferred with Pham Binh Minh. Vietnam is interested in stronger cooperation in farming, organic farming, vegetable growing and high-tech, Zaharieva told a news conference after the meeting.

The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said that the education ministries will be encouraged to sign a new four-year programme of cooperation. Bulgaria will increase to eight per year grants to Vietnamese students, and ensure more Bulgarian language trainings.

The two foreign ministers noted that although the two-way commercial exchange grew, there is yet considerable untapped potential. Zaharieva and the guest agreed to work for holding a meeting next year of the joint economic commission, which is to be accompanied by a business forum.

Zaharieva said that text of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement was finalized during the Bulgarian EU Presidency and that the expectations are for the signing to take place in the autumn.

Pham Binh Minh congratulated Bulgaria for the successful completion of the EU Presidency and noted the country's support for the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement. He said that the agreement will create more opportunities for Bulgaria to increase its investments in Vietnam. The guest thanked for the care for the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria and expressed his conviction in the still better development of the Bulgarian-Vietnamese relations.