Bulgarian President Rumen Radev was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Monday. Bulgaria will continue to support all efforts to deepen cooperation between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Radev said at a joint briefing with his counterpart, President Luong Cuong, after the two met earlier Monday.
Cuong reported that the two agreed to open new areas of cooperation where Vietnam could benefit from Bulgaria's strengths, such as digital transformation, biotechnology, agriculture and healthcare. The President of Vietnam added that the conversation with Radev was a great success, held in an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding.
Three documents signed earlier Monday were presented at the briefing: a cooperation agreement in the field of education for the 2025-2028 period between the governments of the two countries; a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; a Memorandum of Cooperation between the city of Ruse and the People's Committee of Can Tho.
Radev pointed out that Vietnam is more than just an important partner in Southeast Asia, as the two countries are linked by historical traditions of friendship, mutual respect and trust. He congratulated the Vietnamese state leadership and the Vietnamese people for their effective reforms, impressive socio-economic development and sustainable economic growth achieved in recent years.
The Bulgarian head of State said: "My official visit, which comes on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, is an expression of our common determination to give a new dynamic to our relations and raise them to the level of a strategic partnership."
Radev reported that he and Cuong stand by the conviction that trade and economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Vietnam should be deepened and diversified to match the level of regular dialogue at the highest political level. The cooperation will focus on areas of mutual interest such as investment, energy, information technology, science and education, defence, culture, sports, agriculture, ecology, among others.
Radev said: "Speaking to the President of Vietnam, I highlighted the significant contribution of Vietnamese citizens who studied and worked in Bulgaria years ago. Over 30,000 people, 5,000 of whom received their higher education in Bulgaria. This serious community is an important factor for the continued development of our relations and a natural bridge between our peoples, a bridge that we must continue to strengthen." He highlighted the important role of bilateral cooperation in the field of education and science in that regard.
Bulgaria is the first country in Southeastern Europe to teach and promote the Vietnamese language and culture, Radev said. "After a 40-year break, we are also restoring the training of Vietnamese military pilots in Bulgaria," he added.
The Bulgarian delegation led by Radev in Hanoi is comprised of caretaker Minister of Minister of Education and Science Galin Tsokov, of Innovation and Growth Rosen Karadimov, of Tourism Evtim Miloshev. The delegation also included mayors of Bulgarian municipalities, representatives of Bulgarian businesses from the information and high-tech sectors, engineering, defence, automotive and transport sectors.
Radev congratulated Cuong on his recent election as president and invited him to visit Bulgaria.
President Cuong said that the two countries will open new areas of cooperation such as digital transformation, biotechnology, agriculture and healthcare.
“The talks were a great success. In an atmosphere of friendship, trust and mutual understanding, we were informed about the situation in each country. We discussed international and regional issues of common interest. We agreed that disputes and conflicts around the world should be resolved by peaceful means based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law,” Cuong said.
He added that the results of cooperation are still modest, incommensurate with the potential and willingness of the two sides.
According to Cuong, the two heads of State also discussed providing more favourable working and living conditions for Vietnamese people in Bulgaria.
In Hanoi, the head of State held bilateral meetings with General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Speaker Tran Thanh Man, the President's press office said later in the day.
During the day, President Rumen Radev, accompanied by his wife, Desislava Radeva, paid tribute at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the father of Vietnamese independence, and at the monument to national martyrs and heroes.
The head of State's wife, Desislava Radeva, visited the Vietnam-Bulgaria kindergarten in Hanoi, built in 1981 with Bulgarian support, where Vietnamese children learn Bulgarian language, traditions and folklore. Desislava Radeva congratulated the young pupils, the teachers and the management of the preschool. She pointed out that the kindergarten has established itself over the years as a symbol of Bulgarian-Vietnamese solidarity and friendship.
/NZ/
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