Permanent Deputy PM holds talks with Bulgarian counterpart

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (left) and Bulgarian counterpart Tomislav Donchev, September 30, 2019

The Vietnamese official extended congratulations on the significant achievements that the Bulgarian state and people have obtained during their socio-economic development and international integration process.

He expressed his gratitude to Bulgaria for its valuable support for Viet Nam in its past struggle for national independence as well as the country’s current national construction and development cause.

Viet Nam always attaches importance to solidifying and developing its friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with traditional friends in Central and East Europe, with Bulgaria being among the Southeast Asian nation’s top priority partners, Politburo member Binh said.

Deputy PM Tomislav Donchev showed his admiration for Viet Nam’s achievements, voicing his belief that Binh’s visit would contribute to accelerating traditional friendly ties and cooperation between the two countries in a more extensive and effective manner.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Deputy PM conveyed invitations from Vietnamese leaders to Bulgarian leaders to visit Viet Nam on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2020.

They noted that the Viet Nam-Bulgaria economic-trade cooperation has seen progress over the years, but has yet to match their potential. Two-way trade has reached only about  US$100 million per year.

In order to improve the partnership, they agreed to hold the 24th meeting of the Viet Nam-Bulgaria Inter-Governmental Committee on economic cooperation soon, while strengthening trade and investment promotion activities, encouraging and creating optimal conditions for businesses of both sides to seek partners, especially in areas of Bulgaria’s strength and Viet Nam’s demand such as agriculture, pharmaceutical chemistry and IT.

In an open and trusted atmosphere and in the spirit of friendship and cooperation, the two deputy PMs informed each other of the situation in each country, while discussing specific measures to boost bilateral cooperation as well as the regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The Bulgarian official affirmed his support for the enhancement of relations between Viet Nam and the European Union (EU), including the prompt ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), aiming to realize the interests brought about by the two documents for both sides.

He hailed the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria as an important friendship bridge connecting the two countries, adding that 4,000 Vietnamese people who studied and worked in Bulgaria are the valuable assets and a crucial premise for the acceleration of friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation between the two sides.  

The two sides concurred to further strengthen cooperation in culture, tourism, science-technology, labour, security and defence, while speeding up the signing of agreement on education collaboration in the 2019-2022 period.

At the talks, Binh thanked Bulgaria for supporting Viet Nam to run for the position of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure.

They pledged to continue cooperating with and supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organisations.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two deputy PMs emphasized the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the region, while stressing the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

Earlier the same day, Deputy PM Binh met President of Bulgaria's Supreme Court of Lozan Panov, during which he affirmed that Vietnam wishes to learn Bulgaria’s experience in personnel training and court reform, thus enhancing the efficiency of court activities in Viet Nam.

Both sides agreed that authorised agencies of the two sides should work more closely in judicial and administrative reform as well as law building.

Mr. Binh conveyed the Chief Judge of the Viet Nam’s invitation to President of the Supreme People’s Court Panov to visit Viet Nam.

                                                                                                        By Vien Nhu