site.btaPresidents of Bulgaria, Vietnam Discuss Upgrading Bilateral Cooperation to Strategic Partnership Level

President Rumen Radev met with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly here on Tuesday, the Bulgarian President's press secretariat reported Wednesday. The sides agreed that Bulgaria and Vietnam share long-standing friendly relations, and the some 30,000 Vietnamese who have graduated in Bulgaria are the natural bridge for their further development. The heads of state noted the great potential for the development of bilateral cooperation in the economy, scientific research and education. 

To Lam expressed his gratitude to Bulgaria for the consistent assistance provided to his country, which the Vietnamese people will never forget. President Radev's expected visit to Vietnam will give a strong signal of the mutual desire to raise bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership, it was noted at the meeting.

Radev expressed his appreciation for Vietnam's rapid development in recent years and highlighted the role of education and science in this success. Bulgaria's geographical position as a natural gateway of Vietnam to Europe can play an important role in the development of the bilateral partnership, Radev underscored. 

Last year, bilateral trade amounted to about USD 200 million, which is far below the capabilities and ambitions of the two countries, it was further noted during the talks.