General Secretary To Lam delivers a policy speech at Sofia University

The General Secretary visited and delivered a policy speech at Sofia University with the theme: "The journey of 75 years of Vietnam-Bulgaria trans-Eurasian friendship to strategic partnership in the new era."

During his official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria from October 22-24, on the afternoon of October 24 (local time), General Secretary To Lam visited and delivered a policy speech at Sofia University on the theme: "The 75-Year Journey of Trans-Eurasian Friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria to a Strategic Partnership in the New Era."

The event was attended by the school's leadership, professors, lecturers, and a large number of students.

Fostering the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

Sofia University is one of Bulgaria's most prestigious and oldest universities. Having been established and developed for over a century, Sofia University has become a symbol of excellence in Bulgarian education , training tens of thousands of intellectuals, providing high-quality human resources, and producing many outstanding leaders for the country.

The school has a Vietnamese language department, which plays an important role in preserving, nurturing, and continuously strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

Speaking before the faculty and students of the university, General Secretary To Lam stated that the visit of the high-level Vietnamese delegation to Bulgaria coincided with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The agreement between the two sides to adopt a Joint Declaration on establishing a Strategic Partnership is a significant historical milestone, continuing the journey in Vietnam-Bulgaria relations and conveying a meaningful message about the traditional, strong friendship being developed to a new level.

This also represents a strong political commitment between two countries with a long history and a shared aspiration to build a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future; affirming the depth, sharing, and loyalty in the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two nations.

General Secretary To Lam shared that as a close friend of Bulgaria, Vietnam has always followed with interest and rejoiced at the great achievements Bulgaria has made; expressed his genuine admiration and warm congratulations on Bulgaria's remarkable achievement of increasing the size of its economy by more than five times in 2024 compared to 2000; and expressed confidence that in the future, the Bulgarian people will continue to achieve even greater successes in the development of their country.

The General Secretary expressed profound gratitude to the generations of leaders and people of both countries who have diligently cultivated the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria; emphasizing that Bulgaria will forever remember as one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam (in 1950) during the Vietnamese people's resistance war against foreign aggression, when the young Democratic Republic of Vietnam, newly independent and free, urgently needed international support and recognition.

General Secretary To Lam delivers a policy speech at Sofia University. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

General Secretary To Lam stated that President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese nation, chose Bulgaria as one of his first destinations in the autumn of August 1957, three years after the historic Dien Bien Phu victory that "shook the world and resonated across continents."

President Ho Chi Minh's decision demonstrated trust, close ties, and faith in the future of friendly relations between Vietnam and Bulgaria, laying the foundation for a sincere, heart-to-heart friendship between two peace-loving nations.

After Vietnam achieved peace and national reunification, amidst the numerous difficulties caused by the blockade and embargo, the Anagin pills, the precious checkered fabrics, and other timely support from the Bulgarian people embodied the spirit of sharing and mutual support.

General Secretary To Lam said that there is a Vietnamese proverb: "A small piece of food when hungry is worth more than a whole meal when full." He added that the Bulgarian people are a very compassionate nation, and "friendship in times of hardship is the most sincere friendship."

The General Secretary stated that the world is facing epochal changes. The global landscape is shifting towards a multipolar and multi-centered system. Peace, cooperation, and development remain the dominant trends, but they face numerous obstacles and difficulties. Geostrategic competition is at its most intense and comprehensive level since the Cold War. Non-traditional security challenges are increasing and becoming more complex and intertwined. Multilateral cooperation continues to affirm its role, but also faces many challenges regarding resources and effectiveness. Breakthroughs in science and technology create opportunities for advancement, while also generating many new challenges and risks.

Emphasizing the vision and relationship between the two countries in this new chapter, now upgraded to a Vietnam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that Vietnam's development path cannot be separated from the world. The two countries' joint development, mutual support, and unwavering pursuit of a path of peace, independence, self-reliance, and prosperity is the choice that brings the greatest benefits to the people of both nations. The two countries share many similarities in their views on a just and peaceful world order, and both support free trade, multilateralism, and respect for the independence, sovereignty, and legitimate interests of each nation.

Creating tremendous opportunities for cooperation, mutual development, and prosperity.

The General Secretary stated that over the past 75 years, Vietnam-Bulgaria relations have been continuously strengthened and developed in many fields. However, in the face of rapid and profound changes in the international situation, the two countries need to elevate their bilateral relationship to a new level, making it more substantive, effective, and sustainable. Both Vietnam and Bulgaria possess strengths that can effectively complement each other, such as consumer goods, labor, science and technology, and high-quality agriculture.

The collaboration between Bulgaria's high-skilled human resources and technological expertise, coupled with Vietnam's rapidly developing digital transformation needs, will create tremendous opportunities for cooperation, helping both countries to develop and prosper together.

The General Secretary emphasized that the strategic cooperation pillars that the two countries need to prioritize in the coming period are being ready to jointly expand cooperation on security and defense in a substantive manner, in line with the newly upgraded Strategic Partnership framework, especially in areas such as cybersecurity, UN peacekeeping, combating transnational crime, developing the defense industry, and training defense personnel.

Making economic, trade, and investment cooperation a central pillar, Vietnam hopes Bulgaria will become a strategic gateway for Vietnam to gain deeper access to the European Union (EU) market. Conversely, Vietnam is also ready to be a reliable bridge for Bulgaria to expand its relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a dynamic market with approximately 700 million people, including over 100 million Vietnamese citizens.

Promoting substantive cooperation in specialized fields such as science and technology, considering this a strategic priority in the new phase, along with education and training, agriculture, labor, environment, and health.

General Secretary To Lam at Sofia University. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

General Secretary To Lam also emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation between localities and people-to-people exchanges, promoting cooperation in culture, tourism, and sports. People-to-people exchanges are the foundation of friendship. It is necessary to promote cultural, artistic, sports, and tourism exchanges, exchanges between the people of the two countries, especially among young people, and to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums at the regional and international levels.

According to the General Secretary, the 75-year history of Vietnam-Bulgaria relations has shown that when two nations share humanistic values, stand shoulder to shoulder in times of challenge, and look to the future with aspirations for development, that is the solid foundation for a lasting, strong, and increasingly flourishing relationship.

General Secretary To Lam expressed pride in the glorious past when Bulgarian friends and comrades had accompanied the Vietnamese people on construction sites, in classrooms, in hospitals, and in national development projects; and cherished the present as both countries overcome the challenges of the times, promote comprehensive cooperation, and spread the values ​​of peace, cooperation, and development.

Above all, both countries have confidence in the future, with the Vietnam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership serving as a model of genuine, effective, and lasting international friendship in the 21st century.

The General Secretary emphasized that the two countries share symbols associated with flowers. Just as Bulgaria has the rose, symbolizing the captivating, profound, and refined beauty of the Bulgarian people, Vietnam has the lotus, a symbol of purity, indomitability, and resilience, deeply rooted in Vietnamese culture.

In honoring these positive values, the General Secretary expressed confidence that the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Bulgaria will continue to flourish and bear fruit, for the benefit of the people of both countries, and for a world of peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.

On this occasion, General Secretary To Lam answered several questions from students of Sofia University regarding the role of science, technology and innovation; as well as cooperation in education and training.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tong-bi-thu-to-lam-phat-bieu-chinh-sach-tai-dai-hoc-tong-hop-sofia-post1072461.vnp