Hanoi - Bulgaria strengthen exchanges, foster friendship

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Bulgaria (1950-2025), the Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association of Hanoi organized a delegation to visit, work and participate in friendly exchange activities in Bulgaria from June 1-10. Here, the delegation met with the President of Bulgaria, exchanged with Bulgarian intellectuals and friends who love Vietnam. The activities contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries.

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria, on June 4, the delegation of the Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association in Hanoi and Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the Presidential Palace (capital Sofia).

Speaking at the meeting, President Rumen Radev recalled his official visit to Vietnam in November 2024, especially the meeting with former students and Vietnamese people who studied and worked in Bulgaria. He emphasized that Vietnam is a traditional partner and plays an increasingly important role in the region, and affirmed thateducational cooperation and cultural exchange are sustainable and long-term bridges for promoting and expanding cooperation in all other fields.

The delegation took a souvenir photo with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. (Photo: Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association, Hanoi)

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet expressed her delight at the President’s interest in people-to-people diplomacy activities between the two countries. The Ambassador said that many members of the delegation are former students in Bulgaria who have now become experts, scientists, generals and senior officials of Vietnam. This is a “valuable asset” of the bilateral relationship, contributing to the long-term connection between the two countries.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association in Hanoi Le Thu Ha shared about the Association's outstanding activities in recent times such as: organizing celebrations of important Bulgarian holidays such as the Day of Culture, Education and Slavic Writing (May 24), Bulgarian National Day (March 3), Student Day (December 8), organizing classes in singing, folk dancing, Bulgarian cooking... creating a cultural bridge between the two nations.

On this occasion, Ms. Le Thu Ha proposed that Bulgaria increase student exchanges with Vietnam and create more favorable conditions for Vietnamese people, especially former overseas students, to return to visit their "second homeland".

According to the Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association in Hanoi, on June 3, the delegation had a meeting with Bulgarian intellectuals and friends who love Vietnam. The delegation was welcomed by Mr. Simeon Dimchev, Chairman of the Bulgaria - Vietnam Friendship Association; Ms. Kamelia Kyurkchieva, Vice Chairman of Izgrev District and journalist Kadrinka Kadrinova, who has been associated with and written about Vietnam for many years.

The delegation met with dignitaries, intellectuals, and friends who love Vietnam in Bulgaria. (Photo: Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association, Hanoi)

Journalist Kadrinova recalled her visit to the Vietnam-Bulgaria High-Quality Kindergarten in Hanoi in 2009, where she witnessed children performing folk songs and wearing traditional Bulgarian costumes. She expressed her joy at meeting again the principal, Bui Thi Kim Xuan, now a member of the working delegation in her homeland.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/ha-noi-bulgaria-tang-cuong-giao-luu-vun-dap-tinh-huu-nghi-214033.html