National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) meets Chairman of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Association Simeon Dimchev (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue had meetings with the Chairman of the Bulgaria-VietnamFriendship Association, several Vietnamese Ambassadors to European countries, and representatives of Vietnamese communities in Europe in Sofia on September 24 (local time) aspart of his ongoing visit to Bulgaria.

Talking to Chairman of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Association Simeon Dimchev, the NA Chairman highlighted the close friendship and all-round cooperationbetween the two countries over the past 73 years, and underlinedthat Vietnam always attaches great importance to and hopes to further promoteties with Bulgaria.

Hailing the positive contributions that mass organisations of the two countries, including the Vietnam-Bulgaria andBulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Associations, have made to the friendship and partnership between the two countries over the past 73 years,the top legislator said that people-to-people exchange is an importantdiplomatic channel in promoting friendship between the two states and peoples.

He held that the 30,000-strong Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is a bridge for the friendship between the two nations.

Dimchev briefed the Vietnamese NA leader onmajor activities of the association, including those to introduce the culture,land and people of Vietnam in Bulgaria.

The same day, NA Chairman Hue had a meeting with Vietnameseambassadors to Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Greece andTurkey.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets Vietnamese ambassadors to Bulgaria and some other European countries (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman Hue stressed that Europe is an important partner of Vietnam,expressing his hope that the ambassadors will show strong performance inimplementing the Party’s policy regarding multilateral external relations andVietnamese citizen abroad, and in mobilising resources for nationaldevelopment.

Particularly, the NA leader asked the diplomats to payspecial attention to economic diplomacy, pushing for the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to create favourableconditions for investment activities with Vietnam.

Along with strengthening the protection of Vietnamesecitizens in the European countries, the diplomat should support them infostering solidarity and making contributions to the protection andconstruction of the Fatherland, he said.

Earlier, the Vietnamese top legislator visitedBulgaria’s National Museum of History in the capital city of Sofia. 

Also on September 24, NA Chairman Hue had a meeting with theVietnamese communities in Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Czech Redpublic and Slovakia. 

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and representatives of Vietnamese community in Bulgaria and some European countries (Photo: VNA)

Noting that the Vietnam-Bulgaria partnership inpolitics-diplomacy has been fruitful, but bilateral trade and investment cooperationhas remained modest, the NA leader said that his visit will focus on beefing uptrade and investment ties between the two countries and boostinglocality-to-locality cooperation.

He briefed the community on the situation at home andaffirmed the Party and State’s consistentpolicy of considering the Vietnamese community abroad as an inseparable partand great resources of the Vietnamese nation.

He expressed his delight as Slovakia has become the secondcountry after the Czech Republic to recognise the Vietnamese community as anethnic minority group.

He said he hopes the Vietnamese community abroad willcontinue to promote solidarity and mutual support, maintain and develop the mother tongue and cultural identity, and making more contributions to thenational development.

The NA leader affirmed that the Party and State are workinghard to complete policies and laws regarding overseas Vietnamese in order tobetter ensure their legitimate rights and interest.

🐈 On the occasion, NA Chairman Hue witnessed the launch of aneducation promotion fund by the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria and cut theribbon to inaugurate the Fatherland Garden – a venue for exhibition ofVietnamese products./.