site.btaUPDATED Vietnam Top Leader To Lam Visits Bulgaria

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, To Lam, arrived on an official visit to Bulgaria on Wednesday evening. He was received with state honours by Deputy Prime Minister and BSP-United Left Floor Leader Atanas Zafirov at Sofia Airport, the Government Information Service reported. 

The President's press secretariat reported that the visit is at the invitation of President Rumen Radev and is taking place in the context of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and of Vietnam. The visit to Bulgaria is part of a European tour by the Vietnamese leader.

The delegation, led by To Lam, includes ministers as well as representatives of Vietnamese companies. During the visit, a Joint Declaration is expected to be announced on the establishment of a strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Vietnam, along with the signing of bilateral agreements in various fields.

On October 23, the Bulgarian President and the Vietnamese leader will hold a one-on-one meeting, after which they will lead plenary talks between the official delegations of Bulgaria and Vietnam. Radev and To Lam will also make joint statements to the media.

At 2.30 p.m., the two leaders will open a business forum in Sofia dedicated to exploring opportunities for cooperation between Bulgaria and Vietnam. The event is organized by the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, in partnership with Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency.

The forum aims to encourage exchange and present prospects for cooperation and the establishment of partnerships between Bulgarian and Vietnamese companies.

As part of the official visit, which will continue until October 24, meetings are scheduled with representatives of the executive and legislative branches. To Lam will deliver a public lecture at Sofia University. He is also expected to visit a company specializing in the production of defence equipment.