Hanoi (VNA) – Chairman ofthe National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Bulgarian NA Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov held talks inHanoi on January 8, agreeing that the two NAs will push ahead withimplementing the recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) oncooperation.

Jeliazkov is paying an official visit fromJanuary 5 to 9 – the first to Vietnam by a parliamentary leader of Bulgaria in12 years and following his host’s visit to Bulgaria in September 2023.

Vietnam is a member of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while Bulgaria is a member ofthe European Union (EU). Given this, the enhancement of bilateral cooperationis of great importance, the Speaker said. He expressed his hope that the traditional friendship of two countries would develop in line with the spirit of the Vietnam -Bulgaria Joint Statement issued in 2013.

Bothleaders voiced their pride in the achievements obtained since the diplomatic relations were established in 1950. Cooperationhas been growing in all fields, including politics - diplomacy, economy - trade- investment, science - technology, education - training, defence - security, culture,sports, tourism, and locality-to-locality ties. Bilateral trade still topped200 million USD in 2023 despite common difficulties facing global trade.

They agreed that the two sides willhold a meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee for economic, trade andscientific cooperation soon in 2024 so as to open up new cooperation areas andfacilitate goods’ entry into each other’s markets under the EU - Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA).

Chairman Hue noted Vietnam has been exerting efforts to carry out the EuropeanCommission (EC)’s recommendations about sustainable fisheries. He called onBulgaria to push the EC’s consideration of removing the “yellow card”warning against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing for Vietnam’sfisheries sector.

He particularly appreciated theBulgarian NA’s ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement(EVIPA), emphasising that this deal will help Bulgarian businesses access theVietnamese market of over 100 million people and reach the ASEAN market, hometo a combined population of over 650 million.

He asked Bulgaria to accelerate the ratificationby the remaining member parliaments of the EU so that the EVIPA can take effect at an early date.

Vietnam always keeps in mind Bulgaria’sprecious and wholehearted assistance throughout history, the host leader said,appreciating the European country’s support in terms of personnel training.

Bulgaria should also create morefavourable conditions in terms of granting visas for Vietnamese citizens, Huerecommended, asking the two sides to step up tourism promotion in each other’scountries.

Both host and guest welcomedpartnerships between their countries’ localities, including Sofia with Hanoiand Ho Chi Minh City, Varna and Da Nang, Ruse and Can Tho, Sumen and Thanh Hoa,Pleven and Son La, Veliko Tarnovo and Hue, and most recently Vinh Phuc and Pernik.

Jeliazkov agreedwith Hue that the two countries need to sign a governmental-level agreementsoon to create optimal conditions for businesses to carry out labourcooperation projects related to health care, construction, apparel, andagriculture in Bulgaria. The East European country is currently facing labour shortages. They also need topress on with fruitfully implementing the 2023 MoU on defence cooperation,including sharing experience in UN peacekeeping operations and helping Vietnamaddress unexploded ordnance consequences.

Chairman Hue highly valued theBulgarian NA’s recent establishment of a parliamentary friendship group withVietnam which will coordinate with the Vietnam - Bulgaria one to promote parliamentaryties.

Both leaders agreed that the twoparliaments will continue to carry out the MoU on cooperation signed inSeptember 2023 in a swift, active, and effective manner and in line with thespirit that parliamentary cooperation forms an important pillar of thecountries’ relations. Besides, cooperation between the two parliamentaryfriendship groups will help the Vietnamese and Bulgarian NAs work together tosupervise the implementation of bilateral plans and agreements from 2024.

The two sides will also maintain high-level mutual visits between NA leaders,agencies, and parliamentary friendship groups; increase sharing information andexperience in parliamentary activities; coordinate in supervising and promotingthe effective implementation of cooperation agreements between the two Governments;and maintain consultation, coordination, and mutual support at multilateralparliamentary forums as well as in regional and international issues of sharedconcern.

Jeliazkov held that the strategicagreements between Vietnam and the EU, including the EVIPA and the EVFTA, willhelp further expand partnerships between the two countries.

Vietnam highly values the EU’s commonstance on the East Sea, Hue said, calling on Bulgaria to support ASEAN andVietnam’s stance on this issue that matches international law and the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); on the ensuring of security, safety,and freedom of navigation and overflight; and on the maintenance of peace,stability, development cooperation in the regions and the world.

Theleaders welcomed mutual support for each other’s candidacy formembership of the UN Human Rights Council – Bulgaria for the 2024 - 2026 tenureand Vietnam for 2023 - 2025.

ChairmanHue asked Bulgaria to advocate Vietnam’s candidacy for a seat at the HumanRights Council for 2026 - 2028, the UN Economic and Social Council for 2030 - 2032,and the UN Security Council for 2032 - 2033.

The two countries should foster cooperationwithin the frameworks of Vietnam’s relations with the EU such as the EU - Vietnam Partnershipand Cooperation Agreement, the EVFTA, and the EVIPA, as well as within the Asia- Europe Meeting (ASEM).

As the ASEAN country coordinator in ASEM for 2023 - 2024,Vietnam will work with Bulgaria and other members to resume ASEM activities inthe time ahead, he went on.

He also thanked Bulgaria for assisting the Vietnamese people there to surmount the pandemic and continue integrating intothe local society. He suggested it continue providing favourable conditions forthe community to make practical contributions to bilateral ties.

Both NA leaders voiced their belief that the traditional friendship and multifacetedcooperation between their countries will be unceasingly reinforced and developstrongly in the time to come, especially ahead of the 75th anniversaryof bilateral diplomatic relations in 2025.

Following the talks, they witnessedthe signing of a cooperation agreement between Lai Chau city of Vietnam’s LaiChau province and Kazanlak city of Bulgaria.

After that, they joined in a pressmeeting to announce the outcomes of the talks./.