site.btaPM Zhelyazkov Meets with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong

The Bulgarian Government is actively working on the preparation of a Memorandum of Cooperation with Vietnam in the social sphere. The document is at a very advanced stage and will serve as a good basis for a subsequent Agreement on Labour Migration, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said at a meeting with Vietnamese President Luong Quang here on Wednesday. The two held talks on the sidelines of the 80th regular session of the UN General Assembly, the Government Information Service reported.

During the meeting, Zhelyazkov noted Bulgaria's desire to strengthen economic exchange with Vietnam as a priority trading partner in Southeast Asia. The Prime Minister specifically highlighted the active dialogue in the social sphere. 

Zhelyazkov informed the Vietnamese President about the measures taken by the Bulgarian Government to address the challenges related to the procedures for third-country nationals' access to the labour market in Bulgaria. The Prime Minister highlighted a number of legislative and administrative changes that the cabinet has already adopted and which are to be considered by the National Assembly, including an increase in the quotas for the hiring of foreigners by employers. Work is underway to reduce the administrative deadlines for issuing visas and work permits. The capacity of the consular services of Bulgaria's diplomatic missions in a number of countries that are a priority for the Bulgarian labour market, including Vietnam, will also be strengthened.

The Prime Minister underscored the potential for cooperation between Bulgaria and Vietnam in other areas such as information and communication technologies, innovation, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, and pharmacy. According to him, it is essential to make the most of the opportunities for cooperation in areas with high added value.

Zhelyazkov also highlighted the role of the Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in deepening bilateral relations with Vietnam. In addition, the two countries should also take advantage of the opportunities provided by the EU-Vietnam dialogue, the EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, and initiatives such as the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and the Global Gateway.