Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oreshaski has highlighted Vietnam as one of his nation’s vitally important partners that plays a pivotal role as an economic bridge linking Bulgaria with other Asian nations.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oreshaski will pay an official visit to Vietnam from April 6-9 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
His upcoming visit comes after just six months since the Bulgarian President’s trip, demonstrably showing the two governments’ determination to promote the time-honoured friendship in a practical and effective manner.
The following is the gist of an exclusive interview given by PM Plamen Oreshaski to a Voice of Vietnam (VOV) correspondent in Bulgaria’s Sofia capital city.
Prime Minister, your upcoming visit to Vietnam will take place when both nations are preparing for the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2015. What is your assessment of the development of bilateral ties over the past years and Vietnam’s status in Bulgaria’s external policy?
PM Oreshaski: Despite facing numerous difficulties since Vietnam and Bulgaria established diplomatic ties 64 years ago, they have maintained a good relationship. I am very happy to see political relations and economic cooperation between the two nations growing steadily in recent years.
I hope my visit will provide a premise for both sides to further foster trade and economic links and advance further development of sound political ties.
You are accompanied by some Bulgarian cabinet members, what plans have you and cabinet members worked out for the trip?
PM Oreshaski: My delegation includes three ministers in charge of agriculture, culture and transport plus one deputy minister of economics.
During the visit, they are expected to sign important cooperation documents with their Vietnamese counterparts. Consequently, I can say my visit aims not only to deepen political ties but also boost stronger economic links between the two countries.
My delegation will be joined by many Bulgarian firms keen to seek Vietnamese partners. Bulgarian enterprises’ have much interest in Vietnam and that has put us in a difficult position to select who are the best to accompany the delegation.
Quite a lot of Bulgarian businesses want to set up or develop a partnership with Vietnam.
The joint statement issued in 2013 underlined the importance of promoting and diversifying economic and trade cooperation in areas of comparative advantages and untapped potential. The two countries also were desirous of building a new model of economic cooperation. Could you please tell us about in what area the Bulgarian Government has given priority to the new cooperation model and what measures your government has proposed to elevate bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a higher level?
PM Oreshaski: As I mentioned, political ties between Vietnam and Bulgaria have always been good as demonstrated by the joint statement on the sound political and diplomatic relations.
My task is to further enhance bilateral economic cooperation and I am committed to do my utmost to achieve specific results in order that the visit helps to increase connectivity between businesses of the two nations.
A waste oil recycling business of Bulgaria will hold a forum that is seen as a good example of our firms’ desire to expand cooperation with Vietnamese partners. I do hope that Vietnamese enterprises will seriously consider doing business in our nation.
Apart from promoting high-level political dialogues and economic cooperation, culture and tourism are also Bulgaria’s potential areas. Does the Bulgarian Government prioritize boosting cooperation with Vietnam in these spheres?
PM Oreshaski: The participation of Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture and Deputy Minister of Economics in the trip shows our keen interest in developing closer tourism and culture cooperation. We are full of admiration for Vietnam’s longstanding culture and hope that Vietnamese visitors will come to visit our nation.
There are many Vietnamese students graduating from Bulgarian universities. I always have a good impression on Vietnamese students who once learnt at the same my university.
I believe that Vietnamese postgraduates in Bulgaria will serve as a bridge for the promotion of relations between the two peoples.
Vietnam holds an important geopolitical position in Southeast Asia while Bulgaria also keeps the same position in Southeast Europe. Bulgaria always regards Vietnam as a gateway for cooperation expansion with ASEAN member countries. In return, Bulgaria is seen as a gateway for Vietnam’s cooperation expansion with Balkan countries. According to the PM, how will the two countries utilize these advantages to bring bilateral ties to a higher level and create an Asia-Europe bridge?
PM Oreshaski: Vietnam is one of our non-EU top important partners and also our traditional friend in Asia and Southeast Asia. We hope that through Vietnam, we will be able to find more new partners as the country can act as a bridge for Bulgaria to broaden cooperation with other regional countries.
Over the past 6 and 7 years Vietnam has deemed Bulgaria’s EU membership important. I want to call on Vietnamese businesses to invest in Bulgaria as the Bulgarian market is opening its doors to them. By this way, we can become a gateway for Vietnam to enter the EU market.
We always back Vietnam in relations of reciprocal support between the EU and Asia.
Despite experiencing the ups and downs of the Vietnam-Bulgaria relations history, the Vietnamese community has spared no effort to integrate into the Bulgarian society and make important contributions to forging the Vietnam-Bulgaria friendship. What is your government’s assessment of Vietnamese people living in Bulgaria and what measures they have taken to facilitate their lives?
PM Oreshaski: We always have fine sentiments towards Vietnamese people and are ready to help them adapt themselves to the life in our nation.
Vietnamese are our good friends and I personally appreciate their efforts and contributions to bolstering ties between the two countries.
What message do you want to extend to Vietnamese people prior to your visit?
PM Oreshaski: Despite the great geographical distance, the two countries have a common historical identity forged by their struggle for national independence, peace and freedom.
In addition to maintaining good political relations, Vietnam and Bulgaria need to capitalise on the great potential for broader economic cooperation for the mutual benefit, happiness and prosperity of the people of both nations.
Thank you very much.
