Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Bulgaria are enjoying a more steadfastrelationship than ever before, and holding enormous potential for cooperation,according to Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Manirela Petkova.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations (February 8), the diplomatstressed that the bilateral relations have been developing based on goodwilland mutual trust and respect for common benefits in the past seven decades.

To date, collaboration between the two nations, their people and enterprises hasbeen strengthened and expanded in various fields while leaders of both sideshave enhanced dialogues across education, culture, tourism and economy, shesaid.

She went on by saying that becoming the Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam – aclose and time-tested friend of Bulgaria is her great honour, and she isresponsible for facilitating relations, dialogues and cooperation between thetwo states and people.

In recent years, both sides have paid due attention to their economic ties,with trade exchange seeing significant advancements even in the context ofcomplicated developments of COVID-19. However, further efforts are needed tocreate favourable conditions for the two markets, she stated.

She said she has been impressed by the Southeast Asian country’s economicgrowth, and Bulgari acknowledged the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to improveits business climate.

“The signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is a vividillustration for our belief in Vietnam. We hope to promote economic cooperationwith Vietnam in the future”, she said.

She also expressed her delight as many Vietnamese students realise strengths ofuniversities in Bulgari, and choose them to pursue their study.

Touching on a photo exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of thediplomatic relations, the Bulgarian diplomat underscored the display will providevisitors with an insight into the bilateral ties, and show Vietnamese andBulgarian leaders’ commitments to nurturing the partnership.

She hailed the Vietnam News Agency and the Bulgarian News Agency for theirmeticulous preparation for the exhibition, saying the two news agencies haveworked together to preserve valuable photos about meetings of leaders andpeople since the first days of the diplomatic relations.

She described the exhibition as good evidence for the sound cooperation betweenthe two agencies based on their agreements clinched in 2007 and 2013./.