site.btaPresident Radev Confers Order of Madara Horseman on Outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador

President Rumen Radev conferred the Order of the Madara Horseman, First Class, on outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador Do Hoang Long at a ceremony in the Coat of Arms Hall of the Presidency.

The diplomat is recognized for his contribution to the development of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam.

President Radev thanked Ambassador Do Hoang Long for his contribution in the strengthening and development of relations between the two countries. He stressed that these are relations based on sincere friendship, long-standing cooperation, mutual assistance, trust and respect. “I would like to thank Ambassador Long for his active and dedicated work during his term in developing the relations in an upward direction,” the head of State further said. “In the last two years alone, we have had a visit by the President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to our country, and the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament visited Vietnam last year,” Radev said, recalling his visit at the end of last year.

In the Radev's words the high-level meetings allowed "to highlight important areas and priority areas for the development of our cooperation". He listed the economy, investment, education and science, as well as tourism. “I would like to thank Ambassador Long for organizing extremely successful business forums with representatives of leading Vietnamese and Bulgarian companies, respectively,” Radev further said. He added that work is also being done to develop regional cooperation, recalling that the mayors of Sofia and Ruse were also in the delegation.

“I would like to congratulate Ambassador Long for actively working to implement a number of sectoral visits and events in the defence and security sectors, the President also said. After a 40-year hiatus, we resumed the training of pilots for the needs of Vietnam’s air force,” Rumen Radev said. “Thanks to the ambassador and the embassy, we are learning more and more about Vietnam's great achievements in socio-economic development, the introduction of new technologies, development in all areas of the national economy,” he also said.

“Please. accept the ceremony as an expression of gratitude from the Bulgarian institutions and the entire Bulgarian nation for your dedicated efforts for the development of our friendship and cooperation,” Radev addressed the Vietnamese ambassador. He wished him and his family good health and success in all future endeavours.

The Bulgarian President and the Vietnamese Ambassador noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam.

Ambassador Do Hoang Long thanked for the honour of receiving the order. “Personally, I have always felt great affection for Bulgaria,” he stressed. He added that he even perceives Bulgaria as a second homeland. Long expressed his gratitude to the President and the presidential administration for the joint work. He said many results have been achieved during the cooperation between the two countries. He said the visit of the Bulgarian delegation to Vietnam last year had strengthened the strategic partnership.

“This year, which marks the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, is very important because it provides opportunities for both countries to further improve cooperation on many levels,” the Ambassador further said. He wished health to the head of State and his wife, as well as success to the entire Bulgarian nation.