Gen. Giang is a member of the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation accompanying Party General Secretary To Lam during his ongoing official visit to Bulgaria.
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Bulgarian Minister of Defense Atanas Dimitrov Zapryanov chairs a welcoming ceremony for his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Giang. |
During the meeting, both leaders emphasized the long-standing friendship between their nations and agreed to significantly strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.
General Giang highlighted the 75-year, time-tested friendship, expressing Vietnam's gratitude for Bulgaria's historical support. He noted the special significance of the ongoing official visit by Vietnam's General Secretary To Lam, the first such visit since President Ho Chi Minh's visit in 1957, stating it opens a "new chapter" for bilateral relations, including defense. Minister Zapryanov affirmed that the relationship, built on mutual respect, provides a strong foundation for deeper defense ties.
Both ministers acknowledged positive results in existing cooperation, such as delegation exchanges, training, and the defense industry. To make future cooperation more practical and effective, they agreed to enhance delegation exchanges at all levels to share experience. Key areas identified for collaboration include search and rescue, logistics and technical services, humanitarian mine action, cybersecurity and telecommunications, military medicine, academic exchanges between defense academies. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in training and the defense industry, and to consider establishing a "Vietnam - Bulgaria Defense Policy Dialogue" mechanism.
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General Phan Van Giang at the talks |
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Bulgarian Minister of Defense Atanas Dimitrov Zapryanov during the talks |
General Giang made several specific proposals. He asked Bulgaria to consider appointing a resident defense attaché to Vietnam and to continue offering postgraduate training slots for Vietnamese officers, particularly in science, technology, and military aviation. In return, Vietnam offered to train Bulgarian officers in its own defense and language courses. He also requested that Bulgaria, as an E.U. member, support Vietnam’s engagement in the E.U.’s crisis management activities.
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The two ministers sign the Letter of Intent between the two defense ministries on strengthening defense cooperation. |
Minister Zapryanov fully agreed with these proposals, affirming Bulgaria's readiness to deepen relations and enhance mutual trust. General Giang extended an invitation for his counterpart to visit Vietnam and thanked Bulgaria for its participation in the Vietnam Defense Expo.
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Major General Tran Dinh Tho, Director of the Department of Personnel under the General Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam People’s Army, and Ms. Tatyana Aleksandrova, Executive Director of the Military Clubs and Recreation of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, sign the Annex to the Memorandum of Understanding on delegation exchanges for study and recreational visits. |
The meeting concluded with the signing of a Letter of Intent on strengthening defense cooperation and an annex to an existing Memorandum of Understanding on delegation exchanges.
Reported by Thu Trang (from Sofia, Bulgaria)
Translated by Mai Huong