Bulgarian Prime Minister starts tour to VN

Bulgarian PM Plamen Vasilev Oresharski

The visit from April 6-9 is expected to create a chance for leaders of both countries to discuss measures to boost bilateral ties in all fields, especially economics, trade and investment.

The two sides will also take the occasion to seek ways to implement the Viet Nam-Bulgaria new cooperation model and encourage businesses of both sides to strengthen their connectivity.

Viet Nam and Bulgaria have enjoyed a sound traditional relationship over the past more than six decades since they set up their diplomatic ties in February 1950. Bulgaria was also one of the first countries to establish such relations with Viet Nam .

Bulgaria has also attached importance to the development of ties with Viet Nam in its Asia policy. The two countries hope to lift up bilateral ties to strategic partnership.

Two-way trade turnover touches around US$ 70-80 million. The two countries are deploying measures to pursue a new economic cooperation model on the basis of making full use of the strengths of each side.

Bulgaria is currently running seven FDI projects in Viet Nam with a total capital of over US$ 30 million, ranking 57th among the 98 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country.

Bilateral partnership in other fields such as security, defence, education and training and culture has also seen positive progress.

The countries are carrying out an education cooperation programme for the 2012-2016 period. Bulgaria pledged to share its experience in heritage conservation and archaeology, while sending experts to help restore historical sites.

Currently, more than 1,000 Vietnamese citizens are living in the European country. 

The two countries have shown close coordination at multilateral forums such as the WTO, UN Security Council and the Human Rights and Council in the 2014-16 tenure.

Earlier, during Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev’s official visit to VietNnam last year, the two countries issued a joint statement on the development of their ties towards a future strategic partnership.