PM Nguyen Tan Dung on April 7 hosted a welcome ceremony for Bulgarian PM Plamen Oreshaski and his spouse. The two PMs noted that the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria has developed well in all realms and at various levels. Bulgarian PM is expected to raise the two nations’ relationship to a higher level.Bulgaria was one of the first 10 nations in the world establishing diplomatic relations with Viet Nam on February 8, 1950.
Despite the global economic downturn, bilateral trade ties in 2012 remained steady, at nearly US$59 million. Viet Nam mainly exports garment, leather, coffee, pepper corn, tobacco and seafood and imports chemical substances, medicine, wine, machinery and foodstuff from Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is investing in seven projects in Viet Nam with a total registered capitalisation of more than US$30 million.
PM Dung thanked Bulgaria for its assistance to Viet Nam in the national establishment and development. In response, Oreshaski assured Dung that Bulgaria considers Vietnam a strategic partner in Southeast Asia and wants to further develop economic and trade ties with the country.
The two leaders evaluated the bilateral relations and discussed issues of international and regional concerns, especially specific measures to promote bilateral and multi-lateral relations in the future in the framework of Viet Nam-EU cooperation.
At a press conference following the talks with the Bulgarian PM, PM Dung said the two sides need to maintain delegation exchanges and increase two-way trade value as well as create favorable for the two countries’ businesses to invest in advantageous areas.
The host and the guest discussed areas in the framework of a new economic cooperation model, which was approved six months ago, and affirmed to upgrade the relations to strategic partnership in the future.
After talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on agricultural, breeding and seafood between the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Viet Nam-Bulgarian Culture and Tourism cooperation program in the phase from 2014-2016.
Oreshaski took the occasion to invite Dung to visit Bulgaria, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure. The visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels.
