site.btaPresident Rumen Radev Meets with Vietnamese Citizens Who Studied and Worked in Bulgaria

After a 40-year hiatus, Vietnamese pilots will be trained again at the Georgi Benkovski Higher Air Force School, said President Rumen Radev during a meeting with a community of Vietnamese citizens who studied and worked in Bulgaria, representatives of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association. President Radev arrived on an official visit to Vietnam on Sunday.

Radev explained that 40 years ago, when he was a cadet at the Higher Air Force School, he studied alongside Vietnamese cadets. "I am extremely happy that after a 40-year hiatus, the training of five Vietnamese pilots will begin again at our Air Force School, and this for me is a huge success and only the beginning of future, even stronger cooperation," he said.

Radev added that he is overjoyed that his visit to Vietnam began with this meeting with Vietnamese citizens who have worked and graduated in Bulgaria. 
He congratulated them on the bold and effective reforms and the incredible socio-economic development of Vietnam, which is marked by an economic growth unattainable for many countries in the world, said the President. He noted that Bulgarians are proud that Vietnamese citizens who have accumulated knowledge, skills and experience in their country are contributing significantly to the development of today's Vietnam.

The President noted that the visit is on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam. Bulgaria is the first country in Southeast Europe where the Vietnamese language and culture are studied and promoted, Radev also pointed out.

The Bulgarian head of State noted that there is huge potential in a number of areas of common interest such as trade, investments, energy, mechanical engineering, construction, information technologies, agriculture, tourism, pharmacy and others. He added that that is why his delegation includes three ministers, two mayors and representatives of leading Bulgarian companies. In Vietnam, the President is accompanied by representatives of Bulgarian businesses in the fields of information and high technologies, defence, the automotive sector, engineering, etc. The delegation led by him includes the ministers of the caretaker government: of education and science Galin Tsokov, of innovation and growth Rosen Karadimov and of tourism Evtim Miloshev, as well as mayors of Bulgarian municipalities. 

Radev presented the President's Badge of Honour to the  Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association in the face of its Chair Huynh Quyet Thang . The award recognized the active role of the association in the development of relations between Bulgaria and Vietnam and for the tireless support of Bulgarian initiatives on Vietnamese territory.

Sunday's reception is a true testimony to the respect, gratitude and hospitality that Vietnamese citizens who have studied and worked in Bulgaria have towards Bulgaria, said the Ambassador of Bulgaria to Vietnam Pavlin Todorov, pointing to the important role the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association plays in bilateral relations.

Todorov added that in 2025, the two countries will celebrate 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. He expressed hope for further cooperation, deepening the ties between our two nations and for more people to join this wonderful cause.

Bulgaria has hosted and trained over 5,000 Vietnamese students and over 40,000 interns, said Huynh Quyet Thang, noting the valuable skills and work experience leraned from Bulgarian colleagues.

During the reception, Vietnamese citizens performed songs in Vietnamese and Bulgarian.