This is the first visit of the Bulgarian President to Vietnam in the past 11 years and is taking place in the context of the two countries looking forward to celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2025.
The visit aims to continue implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification, proactiveness, and active, comprehensive and extensive international integration in the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress.
Welcoming President Rumen Radev and his spouse to Vietnam for an official visit affirms the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam of always attaching importance to the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Bulgaria in the overall comprehensive partnership and cooperation with the European Union (EU); as well as the determination to work with Bulgaria to promote and further deepen bilateral relations for the benefit of the people of the two countries as well as for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The bond between Vietnam and Bulgaria was formed many decades ago and has become increasingly strong as generations of leaders and people of the two countries have continuously woven together a close friendship.
Despite the geographical distance, Bulgaria has provided Vietnam with valuable spiritual and material support and assistance in the cause of national liberation and defence, and it was also one of the first countries in the world to recognise Vietnam's independence and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam.
President Ho Chi Minh's official visit to Bulgaria in August 1957 laid the foundation and marked an important milestone in the history of relations between the two countries. Over the years, Vietnam-Bulgaria relations have continued to develop positively in most areas.
In Vietnam's foreign policy, the Central Eastern European region plays a very important role, serving as a bridge for Vietnam to strengthen cooperation with the EU. Vietnam prioritises promoting traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with countries in the Central and Eastern European regions, in which Bulgaria is one of the top priority partners.
Bulgarian leaders highly appreciate the relationship with Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam is a top priority partner in the Southeast Asian region. The two sides regularly exchange delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev himself has a good impression of Vietnam.
As President, he has had many meetings with high-ranking leaders of Vietnam; he has actively contributed to efforts to promote bilateral relations while at the same time paying great attention to the development of the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria.
With a foundation of time-honoured cooperation and high political trust, economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria has developed positively in recent times. Bilateral trade revenue in the 2021-2023 period reached more than 200 million USD/year, nearly doubling the figure from the 2019-2020 period.
Bulgaria currently has 14 valid investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of 31.32 million USD, ranking 68th out of 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. The two sides successfully held the 24th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation in May 2024.
Bulgaria is also one of the EU member states that has ratified the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). Education and training is a traditional area of cooperation between the two countries. So far, Bulgaria has trained more than 3,600 scientists and about 30,000 highly skilled technical workers for Vietnam.
Many Vietnamese people who studied in Bulgaria have become leading scientists, experts and engineers who have been actively participating in making important contributions to the cause of defending the Fatherland and building the country. Local cooperation has been maintained and promoted with the establishment of many cooperative relationships between Vietnamese and Bulgarian localities.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria currently consists of about 1,000 people, with a spirit of solidarity, mutual assistance, always looking towards the Fatherland and actively contributing to the local socio-economic development, which is highly appreciated by Bulgarian authorities at all levels.
Not only at the bilateral level, Vietnam and Bulgaria regularly coordinate closely and support each other at multilateral forums. With the tradition of sincere friendship and cooperation over many decades, Vietnam and Bulgaria are firmly on the path to bringing bilateral relations to new heights.
The official visit to Vietnam by President Rumen Radev and his wife once again affirms the determination of the two countries to strengthen ties, opening a new and beautiful chapter in the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
