Prague (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu hassuggested Bulgaria promote cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of itsstrength such as agriculture, processing industry and food production.

The Vietnamese legislator made the suggestion at a meeting with Speaker of Bulgaria's National Assembly Tsveta Karayancheva on April 26 on the occasion of Luu’s ongoingworking visit to Bulgaria to further enhance the relations between the twocountries and their legislative bodies.

Luu expressed his joy at the increasing development of the Vietnam-Bulgaria relationshipin recent years, saying that the two countries can learn from experience ofeach other in tuning legal documents and judiciary, buildingthe rule-of-law State and anti-corruption law.

Regarding the education bond, the Vietnamese official asked Karayancheva tourge Bulgaria’s Government and education ministry to increase scholarships for Vietnamesestudents to study in the country.

Bulgaria helped Vietnam train many officials and experts, and many of thembecame high-ranking leaders of Vietnam such former NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hungand former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, he noted.

Luu called on the Bulgarian side to continue supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2020-21 tenure.

He expressed his hope that as the rotating presidency of theEuropean Union (EU), the Bulgarian NA will soon ratify the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA); and further promote the implementation of cooperationagreements signed by the two countries, especially the organisation of the 4th meetingof the Vietnam-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Committee.

Karayancheva, forher part, agreed with Luu’s opinion, saying that throughmeetings, the two sides need to find solutions to difficulties in their trade,investment and education cooperation.

Bulgaria wishesto become a bridge connecting Vietnam and Europe, she stressed.

She also revealed that her country has been amending some laws and building an e-parliament.

On the same day, the NA Vice Chairman had a meeting with Bulgarian VicePresident Iliana Yotova, during which Luu said he hopes his visit will contributeto further pushing the multifaceted relationship between the two nations, especiallybetween their legislatures.

Yotova stressed that the two sides should discuss long-term plans on investmentand trade cooperation, and work closely to organise business forums, towardsmaking it easier their firms, especially small and-medium-sized enterprises toseek and set up partnership.

Bulgaria is willing to share experience with Vietnam in processing farmproducts, and agricultural production in line with the European standards, shesaid.

For educationbond, she suggested the Vietnamese Government devise specific plans to promotethe teaching and learning of Vietnamese language at high schools in Bulgaria,saying that this will help preserve Vietnam’s culture.

Earlier the same day, the Vietnamese official met with Ddannail Kirilov,Chairman of the Justice Committee of the Bulgarian National Assembly.

The two sidesdebated the amendment of the penal code and laws relating to combatingcorruption.  

As scheduled, NAVice Chairman Luu will leave Bulgaria on April 29, and visit Macedonia fromApril 30-May 1 and Rumania from May 2-5.-VNA