Vietnam Bulgaria strive for closer IT ties

Hanoi Times - Vietnam and Bulgaria are looking to increase cooperation in the fields of information technology and communications after signing an earlier agreement in May 2000.

Minister and Chairman of the State Agency for Information Technologies and Communications (SAIT) of Bulgaria Plamen Vatchkov is currently in Vietnam for a six-day working visit, beginning o­n October 9.

On October 10, the Bulgarian minister held talks with Minister of Information and Communication Le Doan Hop where the two agreed o­n cooperation programmes, including IT and communication services and the outsourcing of software.

On the day, the Bulgarian minister was received by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai who called for Vietnamese officials who studied or worked in Bulgaria to aid in the efforts to increase the traditional ties and cooperation between the two countries.

The Deputy PM said he expected to see more visits made by both sides as he regarded it as a way to help strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

During their stay in Vietnam, Bulgarian officials will also meet Vietnamese officials in a round-table discussion o­n October 11 to share experiences o­n the building of policies o­n IT and communications.

The 2000 cooperation agreement in IT and communications created a legal foundation to enable Vietnamese and Bulgarian agencies and businesses to team up o­n a host of specific cooperation programmes.