Hanoi (VNA)🐼 – The Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), and the Bulgarian Embassy in Vietnam opened a photo exhibition themed “70 Years of Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship and Development” at the National News Centre in Hanoi on November 16.

The event is meant to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of Vietnam - Bulgaria diplomatic relations (February 8, 1950 - 2020). It features 70 black-and-white and colour photos selected from the huge archives of the VNA and BTA, vividly reflecting the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria over the last seven decades. Notably, they include photos of an official visit to the European country by then President Ho Chi Minh in August 1957, an important milestone in bilateral relations, and a trip to the Southeast Asian nation by a Bulgarian leader one year later.

70 years of close-knit friendship

The exhibition offers visitors a look at the Bulgarian Government and people’s precious spiritual and material support for Vietnam during the struggle for national liberation, construction, and defence in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the development of bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields over the past years. Bulgaria was one of the first countries to recognise and set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam. Addressing the opening ceremony, Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova said the event provides an insight into the history of the two countries’ relations, and also serves as a visual trip of the countries’ multifaceted ties and the dynamism and diversity of their collaboration. Bulgaria was one of the world’s first 10 countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which is a decisive factor of Vietnam winning over the Bulgarian people’s understanding and sympathy, she noted. She added that the exhibition aims to share the story about the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in the foundation and enhancement of peaceful relations among countries. The ambassador also stressed that the countries’ relations have been elevated to a higher level since many new agreements were signed between the EU, of which Bulgaria is a member, and Vietnam, creating new opportunities for the sustainable development of trade, investment, peace, and security. In her remarks, she also spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government and people’s efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, noting this success has made it possible for the exhibition. Nowadays, Bulgaria and Vietnam share close-knit relations that centre on the people and base on goodwill and mutual respect, Petkova said, adding that the partnership originating from many strategic goals, and they have been connected to each other by the history, families, and friendship. Visiting the exhibition, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam Vitezslav Grepl said he is highly impressed with the historical photos on display. He added the Czech Republic and Vietnam are also celebrating the 70th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, so he also wishes to learn more about Vietnam’s diplomatic ties with other countries. The photos on show are very impressive, the diplomat said, noting that he is particularly interested in the black-and-white photos that record the initial period after the Vietnam - Bulgaria friendship took shape.

Cooperation between national news agencies

Since the VNA and BTA signed the first agreement on information exchange in 2007, they have continually expanded cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally. The exhibition is one of the joint activities they have been carrying out to contribute to this highly potential friendship. In his speech, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi said the cooperation between the VNA and BTA has been making practical contributions to the mutual understanding between the people of the two countries, as well as the long-standing friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria. Via their news items, the two agencies will continue to not only cover bilateral connections in political - diplomatic, economic, or social aspects but also act as a bridge linking Vietnamese and Bulgarian businesses as well as the Vietnamese and Bulgarian people. The image of the countries and people of Vietnam and Bulgaria, along with their potential and strengths, will be further popularised by the news agencies, he added. On this occasion, he also offered deep condolences over the death of BTA Director General Maxim Minchev on November 15, one day before the exhibition opened. In a letter to the VNA General Director a few days ago, Minchev expressed his wish to join his VNA colleagues to organise this event successfully so as to help bring into play strengths of the two national news agencies and nurture their countries’ relations. He wrote in the letter that he had the good luck to visit Vietnam for many times and witnessed the country’s strong development, and that he admired the vigorous vitality and dynamism of the Vietnamese people. The event will last through November 22 at the National News Centre at No 5 Ly Thuong Kiet street in Hanoi. Some of its outstanding photos will be shown at the celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic ties, to be held by the Bulgarian Embassy at the Hanoi Opera House on November 17./.