VietNamNet Bridge – President Truong Tan Sang and his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev agreed on a new economic co-operation model that aims to transform the two countries' relationship into a strategic partnership during their talks in the capital city yesterday, Oct 28.

Bulgaria, Vietnam look to strategic partnership

President Truong Tan Sang and his Bulgarian counterpart Rosen Plevneliev receive a guard of honour yesterday in Ha Noi.

Under the new economic co-operation model, Vietnamese products may enter Europe through Bulgarian ports, which would significantly increase trade and economic ties between the two countries.

The Presidents agreed to create favourable conditions for the two countries' businesses and investors to seek partners and study each other's markets, particularly in spheres where Bulgaria holds advantages and Viet Nam has demand, such as construction, urban and public transport system planning and development, energy, environment, food processing and water resource management.

Both leaders expressed delight at the close and effective coordination between the two nations at international forums and agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in this area.

The Bulgarian President affirmed that his country backed the settlement of all disputes between nations by peaceful means and in accordance with international law.

President Sang described the Bulgarian President's official visit to Viet Nam, which started the same day, as an important milestone in promoting the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Bulgaria in the new period.

He affirmed that Viet Nam always attached importance to consolidating and developing its friendship and co-operation with Bulgaria while pursuing its external policy of independence, self-control, diversification and multilateralisation and active international and regional integration.

He expressed delight at the achievements the Bulgarian people had gained during their socio-economic development process and integration into the European Union.

He added that these achievements, coupled with Viet Nam's dynamic economic development and increasingly active role in the region and the world, would be an important premise for the two countries to continue boosting bilateral and multilateral co-operation in many fields.

The Vietnamese leader also thanked Bulgaria for creating favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to live in the country, saying that he believed the Vietnamese community would continue acting as a bridge to develop the two countries' friendship and co-operation.

For his part, President Plevneliev spoke highly of the significant achievements gained by Viet Nam in its renovation, and said that Viet Nam would always be a key contributor to regional peace and stability that deserved an important position in the international community.

He affirmed that Bulgaria wanted to lift its traditional friendship and multifaceted co-operation with Viet Nam to a new height.

During the talks, the two leaders discussed and agreed on specific measures to boost co-operation in many fields, especially in economics-trade, education-training, culture-tourism and security-defence. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

After the talks, the two leaders isued a joint statement.

They also witnessed the signings of several bilateral co-operation documents, including a memorandum of understanding between the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology and the Bulgaria Academy of Sciences and another on information exchange between the Vietnam News Agency and the Bulgaria News Agency.

Boosting co-operation

The same day, Rosen Plevneliev had a meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong.

In the meeting, Trong suggested that Viet Nam and Bulgaria expand their bilateral ties through various channels, including party, parliament, government and people-to-people exchanges.

Plevneliev said he was impressed by the significant achievements Viet Nam had gained after nearly 30 years of renewal. He spoke highly of Viet Nam's position in the region and the world and voiced support of the free trade agreement that Viet Nam is currently pursuing with the EU.

Plevneliev was also received by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who affirmed that Viet Nam would do its utmost to promote relations with the parliament and people of Bulgaria for further mutual understanding between the two nations as well as highly effective co-operation between the two countries in all realms.

Congratulating Bulgaria for its socio-economic achievements, Hung said the results had helped raise the country's position in the world.

Plevneliev confirmed that his country attached much importance to relations with Viet Nam, through which it can expand its relations with other Southeast Asian countries.

He expressed his belief that mutual friendship between the two States and peoples would help Viet Nam and Bulgaria reap more fruits in their co-operation.

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung hosted a reception for the Bulgarian guest, during which he said Vietnamese people always bore in mind the precious and effective help that Bulgaria gave Viet Nam during its past struggle for national independence as well as its current national construction.

He underscored Viet Nam's constant policies of continuing to deepen Viet Nam-Bulgaria ties and make them more practical and effective.

Besides strengthening co-operation in economics, trade and investment, he said, the two sides should continue fostering links in potential areas of mutual strength, including power, high technology, pharmaceuticals, food processing, education and military technology.

He suggested that the two sides create favourable conditions for businesses to share information, explore each country's market and strengthen their connectivity.

President Plevneliev proposed that as there was room for both sides to boost co-operation, Viet Nam and Bulgaria should promote activities in economics, trade, investment, education and training and people-to-people exchange.

Bulgaria was ready to act as a bridge for Viet Nam to broaden its co-operation with the EU as well as a gateway for Vietnamese products to enter the European market, he said.

Source: VNS