Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and visiting Bulgarian President Rumen Radev held talks in Hanoi on November 25, at which they agreed on major orientations and specific measures to further foster cooperation and elevate relations between the two countries in the coming time.

Hailing the Bulgarian President’s visit on the threshold of the 75th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2025, Cuong affirmed Vietnam's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Bulgaria, a key partner in Central and Eastern Europe. He also expressed gratitude for Bulgaria’s support during Vietnam's past struggle for independence as well as current process of national construction development.

Radev expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in the country’s “Doi moi” (Renewal) process, economic development, and growing international influence, asserting that Vietnam has become an important factor in Southeast Asia.

The Bulgarian President showed his pride in Bulgaria’s role in supporting Vietnam’s cause of construction and development as it has helped the Southeast Asian country training more than 30,000 highly skilled workers.

Briefing the host on Bulgaria’s achievements in economic development and digital transformation, he affirmed that Bulgaria sees Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia and hopes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam across all fields.

The two leaders agreed to continue increasing exchanges and visits at all levels, especially at the high level, through all Party, State, Government and National Assembly channels, and people-to-people contacts, thus consolidating mutual understanding and political trust, and laying a foundation for broader cooperation in various fields.

On trade and investment, the Presidents affirmed this as a crucial pillar of the bilateral relationship. They agreed to further promote existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic and Scientific-Technological Cooperation. They pledged to encourage ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses to implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) effectively and to enhance investment cooperation in areas where Bulgaria has strengths, such as information technology and supporting industries.

Radev noted that promoting trade and investment cooperation is among the key objectives of his visit, highlighting the presence of major Bulgarian companies accompanying the delegation. He expressed his hope for tangible progress in the field in the coming time.

Cuong took this occasion to thank Bulgaria for being one of the first EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urged Bulgaria to encourage other EU countries to expedite the approval process. He also asked for Bulgaria's support for the European Commission’s lifting of its "yellow card" against Vietnamese seafood exports.

Radev affirmed that Bulgaria, with its strategic geographic location, is ready to act as a bridge for Vietnam to access the EU market.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese leader’s proposals, Radev pointed to the need for the two sides to boost cooperation in traditional areas such as defence - security, education - training, science - technology, agriculture, culture - sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, suggesting the expansion of collaboration to new areas such as digital transformation, information technology, mineral processing, and the environmental.

Both sides agreed to bolster people-to-people exchanges to strengthen bonds and mutual understanding and concurred to facilitate visa procedures for each other’s citizens and step up cooperation at the local level through trade, investment, and tourism promotion activities.

Cuong took the occasion to thank and request the Bulgarian administrations at all levels to continue supporting the Vietnamese people in the country so that they could integrate more deeply into the local society while contributing to the host nation’s development as well as the traditional friendship between the two countries.

The two leaders affirmed that they will maintain close coordination, share experience, and support each other at multilateral forums, particularly at the UN and within the ASEAN-EU framework, to jointly address global challenges.

Regarding regional and international issues, including the East Sea matter, they agreed that global disputes and conflicts should be resolved via peaceful means based on the UN Charter’s fundamental principles and international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in regions and all over the world for worldwide cooperation and prosperity.

Radev invited Cuong to visit Bulgaria, and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of several cooperation documents in the areas of education, economy – trade and local collaboration.

ℱ The two sides also adopted a joint statement on the outcomes of the Bulgarian President’s visit, reaffirming the high-level commitments to enhancing cooperation in the domains of the two countries’ strengths and needs for the interests of their people as well as for peace, stability and sustainable development in each region and the whole world./.