This is the first trip to Vietnam by a Bulgarian president in 11 years, ahead of the 75th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations next year.
Vietnam and Bulgaria established the diplomatic relationship on February 8, 1950. In August 1957, President Ho Chi Minh paid an official friendship visit to Bulgaria, marking an important milestone in the history of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. Over the past three fourths of a century, the Vietnam - Bulgaria relationship has developed considerably.
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President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev speaks at the meeting with the Vietnam – Bulgaria Friendship Association and Vietnamese friends. |
Regarding politics and foreign affairs, Bulgaria became one of the first countries in the world to recognize and set up diplomatic relations with Vietnam. The country has strongly supported Vietnam during past struggle for national independence and current national construction cause nowadays. Bulgarian generations of leaders have highly valued relations with Vietnam, affirming that Sofia considers Hanoi a top priority partner in the Southeast Asia.
The two sides have maintained regular delegation exchanges, particularly at high level. At the same time, both sides have actively supported each other at multilateral forums. Meanwhile, the two countries’ economic and trade ties have progressed well. Reportedly, their trade volume reached USD 200 million a year during 2021-2023, nearly doubling the figure during 2019-2020. Bulgaria currently has 14 valid projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of USD 31.32 million, ranking 68th out of 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Most notable among these are the coffee processing project in Lam Dong province (USD 14 million) and a textile and garment project in Thua Thien Hue province (USD 14 million).
In May 2024, the two sides successfully co-organized 24th session of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Bulgaria is one of the member states of the European Union (EU) to ratify the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EUVIPA).
Moreover, educational cooperation stands as a cornerstone of the bilateral ties. Bulgaria has played a crucial role in Vietnam’s human resources development, helping the country train 3,600 Vietnamese scientists and around 30,000 skilled technicians. In addition, labor cooperation is also a potential area. The Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Bulgarian Ministry of Labor and Social Policy inked an agreement on labor, occupation, and social welfare in November 2018. And locality-to-locality collaboration between the two countries has been fostered with twinning ties established between localities of Vietnam and Bulgaria.
In the field of defense and security, both sides signed a framework agreement on defense cooperation in 1996, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on defense cooperation in 2013, and an agreement on educational cooperation in 2008. In April 2012, Vietnam and Bulgaria inked an agreement on mutual protection and exchange of classified information. Then the two sides signed a treaty on crime prevention in June 2015 and then an MoU on crime prevention in July 2015.
At present, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria numbers about 1,000. They have promoted solidarity, supported each other, turned towards the Fatherland, and made contributions to local socio-economy. They are highly appreciated by local authorities at all levels in Bulgaria.
On the foundation of the two countries’ traditional friendship, Vietnamese Party and State leaders are glad to welcome the official visit by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his spouse to Vietnam. The visit re-affirms Vietnam’s foreign guidelines of independence, self-reliance, multi-lateralization and diversification of relations and its appreciation of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Bulgaria, and underlines Vietnam’s determination to go along with Bulgaria to boost and deepen the bilateral ties, for the sake of each country’s people and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and all over the world.
We strongly believe that the visit will be a success, making contribution to developing the bilateral relations in a deep, practical, and effective manner, suitable for the real situation of the two countries.
Reported by PAN
Translated by Minh Anh