Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov. Photo: Dinh Hoa

There are around 30,000 Vietnamese people who studied and worked in Bulgaria in the 1950-1980 period, and about 1,000 at present, according to VOV.

In the process of promoting cooperation between the two countries, these people are important factors ensuring the success of the bilateral collaboration, he stated, expressing his hope that this community will bring their affection, knowledge, and experience from studying and working in Bulgaria to further tighten the Bulgaria-Vietnam friendship and cooperation.

Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union (EU), and Vietnam, a dynamic member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have huge potential for cooperation in economics, culture, and education. Bulgaria can be a gateway for Vietnam to approach the European market and vice versa, and the latter a bridge for the former to access the ASEAN market, stressed the Speaker.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association Nguyen Truong Son said Vietnamese people who used to study and work in Bulgaria always bear in mind the support of the host country’s Government and people.

On this occasion, Speaker Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov awarded the Bulgarian NA’s certificates of merit to six Vietnamese individuals with outstanding achievements in people-to-people diplomacy and important contributions to the two countries’ friendship and solidarity.

Speaker Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov presents the Bulgarian NA’s certificates of merit to six Vietnamese individuals with outstanding achievements in people-to-people diplomacy and important contributions to the two countries’ friendship and solidarity. Photo: Dinh Hoa

Successful visit

Speaker Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov and his entourage left Hanoi on January 9 afternoon, concluding their five-day official trip to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, VietnamPlus said.

This was the first visit by a Bulgarian NA Speaker in over a decade and was billed as a reciprocal visit following the official Bulgaria visit by the Vietnamese top legislator in September 2023.

Jeliazkov's visit was to cultivate sound political relations between the two countries via Party, State, parliament, Government, and people-to-people exchange channels. It offered a good opportunity for the two sides to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern, and bolster bilateral relations and cooperation practically and effectively, especially in the areas of their strength.

Bulgaria sees Vietnam as an important partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while Vietnam views the visiting delegation as an important link to a strategic Eastern European partner.

During his stay, Jeliazkov had extensive meetings with a host of Vietnamese leaders.

Leaders of the two countries commented on the positive development progress in the bilateral cooperation across various areas and agreed to continue enhancing visits and contact at all levels via all channels as well as effectively roll out bilateral cooperation mechanisms and agreements.

Chairman of the Vietnamese NA Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Speaker of the Bulgarian NA Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov in Hanoi on January 8. Photo: VNA

Targeting USD 500 million in bilateral trade revenue

Amidst the economic downturn across the globe, two-way trade revenue topped $200 million. Both sides eyed $500 million a year in the bilateral trade exchange by promoting trade and investment cooperation, particularly in the fields of their strengths such as hi-tech agriculture, pharmaceuticals, IT, tourism, culture, and aviation, among others.

Vietnam called on Bulgaria to influence the European Commission’s consideration of removing the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood. Additionally, the country appreciated the Bulgarian NA’s ratification of the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which will help Bulgarian enterprises access the Vietnamese market and reach the ASEAN market. The group asked the Bulgarian side to accelerate the ratification by the remaining member parliaments of the EU so that the EVIPA could take effect at an early date.

The two legislators concurred that both sides should continue formalizing the new Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two parliaments signed in September 2023 in a swift, active, and effective manner, and in line with the spirit that parliamentary cooperation forms an important pillar of the two countries’ relations.

Besides, cooperation between the two parliamentary friendship groups will help the Vietnamese and Bulgarian NAs work together to supervise the implementation of their plans and agreements right from 2024.

The two sides said they will also maintain high-level mutual visits between NA leaders, agencies, and parliamentary friendship groups. They also plan to increase the sharing of information and experience in parliamentary activities, coordinate cooperation agreements between the two Governments, and maintain mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums as well as in regional and international issues of shared concern.

Bulgarian Ambassador Attends New School Year Ceremony at Viet-Bul Kindergaten On September 5, in Hanoi, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Vietnam Pavlin Todorov attended the new school year ceremony at the Vietnam-Bulgaria kindergarten.

Bulgarian Ambassador Visits Duong Lam Ancient Village The Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam immersed himself in the history and culture of the Duong Lam ancient village.

Bulgarian NA Speaker’s Visit to Vietnam Opens Up New Chapter in Vietnam-Bulgaria Ties In an interview with the World& VieNam Report ahead of the official visit of Bulgarian National Assembly Speaker Rosen Dimitrov Zhelyazkov, Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria ...