Viet Nam treasures traditional friendship with Bulgaria: Top legislator

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue made the above statement during his talks with his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Zhelyazkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, on September 25 (local time.

Vuong, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria, affirmed Viet Nam supports the Bulgarian legislature to consolidate and elevate its relations with the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). 

He thanked the Bulgarian NA for its approval of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which took place ahead of his visit, saying it will create a firm, favorable legal foundation for businesses of the two countries to expand their cooperation in the time ahead once the deal comes into force.

The Vietnamese NA advocates enhancing parliamentary diplomacy and forging bilateral legislative cooperation, while actively participating in regional and international forums, he stated. 

The guest suggested Bulgaria continue its support for ASEAN's centrality and stance on the East Sea.

For his part, Zhelyazkov said Bulgaria always treasures the long-standing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam.

Zhelyazkov suggested the two sides bring into full play advantages generated by the EVIPA and consider establishing joint ventures in Viet Nam or Bulgaria to meet their demand or serve export to a third country.

Bulgaria always keeps a close watch on and highly values Viet Nam's position in the region and ASEAN, as well as the Southeast Asian country's foreign policy, the host shared.     

Both sides agreed to step up the exchange of delegations at all levels, enhance collaboration between NA committees and agencies, and promote the legislatures' role in supervision and the implementation of agreements reached by the two countries.

Viet Nam and Bulgaria will also further coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums like the United Nations, the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, they affirmed. 

They consented to soon organize the 24th meeting of the inter-governmental committee for economic, trade and scientific cooperation, create favorable conditions for products of the two countries to access the respective markets, expand cooperation in such fields as processing and manufacturing, high-tech, innovation, health care, pharmaceutical products, and especially economy and logistics.

The leaders shared the view that such traditional, potential cooperation spheres as education-training, labor, and tourism, and collaboration between localities should be promoted in the time ahead.

The two legislative bodies should intensify the exchange of information and experience, and continue their close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP), they suggested.

Regarding regional and international issues, the two leaders stressed that all conflicts and disputes should be handled by peaceful measures in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

Following their talks, they signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two legislatures, which takes effect from the date of signing and replaces the MoU inked on April 16, 2012.

They also witnessed the signing and handover of four cooperation documents, including one between the Vietnamese NA Office and the Bulgarian NA Secretariat, and the others covering cooperation in culture and tourism, and collaboration between Viet Nam's Vinh Phuc province, and Pernik province of Bulgaria.

During the visit, Vuong paid courtesy visits to Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and PM Nikolai Denkov./.