Sofia (VNA) – Permanent Deputy PrimeMinister Truong Hoa Binh and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev expressed theircountries’ wish to enhance bilateral cooperation during a meeting in Sofia onOctober 1.

Deputy PM Binh, now on an official visit toBulgaria from September 29 to October 2, highly valued the strides in thetraditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.He also spoke highly of the host President’s support for bilateral ties overthe past years.

Informing the host on the outcomes of the talkswith his Bulgarian counterpart Tomislav Donchev, Binh expressed his delightthat both sides agreed on many measures to further develop bilateral ties inmultiple spheres like politics, defence – security, trade – investment,agriculture, labour, and culture – education.

He also asked Bulgaria to accelerate the EU’sratification of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to create greater momentum for economiclinks.

President Radev said the Bulgarian peopletreasure the close-knit relationship between the two nations, affirming thatVietnam is one of the important partners of his country in Southeast Asia.

He suggested both sides increase the exchange ofvisits at all levels to step up bilateral partnerships, especially in economy,trade and investment.

The host leader also highly valued contributionsto the two countries’ relations by the Vietnamese community and the more than30,000 Vietnamese who received training in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria always supports stronger links betweenVietnam and the EU and hopes that the two countries will better capitalise ontheir advantages and cooperation potential to benefit both peoples, he said.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussedmeasures to reinforce coordination at multilateral forums and contribute topeace and stability in their respective regions and the world. They voicedtheir support for the peaceful settlement of the East Sea issue, the respectfor international law, and the ensuring of security, safety and freedom ofnavigation and aviation in the waters in line with the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, Deputy PM Binh conveyed PartyGeneral Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong’s invitation to PresidentRadev to visit Vietnam in 2020, when the countries will mark 70 years of theirdiplomatic relationship.

Also on October 1, Deputy PM Binh had a meetingwith Bulgarian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva.

Binh said in the time ahead, the countriesshould bolster connections in politics – diplomacy and economy – trade –investment. Besides, they also need to work closely together to prepare foractivities marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

The Vietnamese official asked both sides to soonorganise the 24th meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee for economic,trade and scientific cooperation, while stepping up trade promotion activitiesto seek chances for partnership in the fields of their strength.

The two sides agreed to soon sign cooperationdeals such as an agreement on education cooperation for 2019 – 2022, anagreement on cultural cooperation for 2019 – 2021, and another on tourismcooperation for 2020 – 2022 so as to create a legal framework for fosteringmultifaceted connections.

For her part, Deputy PM and Foreign MinisterZaharieva stated Bulgaria backs and will strive to push the ratification andenforcement of the EVFTA and the EVIPA, thus further fostering economic, tradeand investment ties between Vietnam and EU members, including Bulgaria.

The two sides also agreed to strengthencooperation at international forums while discussing coordination to contributeto global and regional peace and stability, including in the East Sea. Theyaffirmed their support for the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, therespect for international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, the maintenance ofnavigation and aviation freedom, and multilateral cooperation in dealing withcommon challenges.

During his visit, Deputy PM Binh met withChairwoman of the Bulgarian National Assembly (NA)’s legal affairs committeeAnna Aleksandrova and the Bulgaria – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group.

At the event, Binh hailed the Bulgarian NA andthe group’s contributions to the two countries’ relations, calling on the twoNAs to continue helping with the implementation of the signed agreements andset up new cooperation directions for the countries.

He also conveyed Vietnamese NA Chairwoman NguyenThi Kim Ngan’s invitation to visit Vietnam to the chairperson of the Bulgarianparliament.

Aleksandrova said the Bulgarian NA hopes totighten collaboration with the Vietnamese side and will work closely with theSoutheast Asian nation in the celebration of the two countries’ 70-yeardiplomatic relationship in 2020. 

It also supports the EVFTA and EVIPAratification, as well as the enhancement of the two peoples’ friendship andrelations in a more effective manner, she added./.