At the invitation ofPresident of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Luong Cuong, President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and his wife will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 24-28, 2024. VOV reporter interviewed Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long ahead of the visit of President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and his wife.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long. (Photo: VNA)
Reporter: Could you please assess the significance of President Rumen Radev's upcoming visit to Vietnam for Vietnam-Bulgaria relations, especially as the two countries are looking forward to the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2025?
Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long: President Rumen Radev's official visit to Vietnam takes place at a time when the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in recent times, especially in 2024, has seen many important developments.
Firstly, this is the first visit in 11 years by the President of Bulgaria and also the first visit to Vietnam by Mr. Rumen Radev as President.
Second, this is the third high-level delegation exchange in the past two years, following two visits by the two National Assembly Chairmen (September 2023 and January 2024).
Third, for Vietnam, President Rumen Radev is honored to be the first Head of State to be officially received by President Luong Cuong in Vietnam since taking office; thereby demonstrating the respect, affection and good feelings that the Vietnamese State and people always have for Bulgaria as a traditional, trustworthy, loyal friend and one of Vietnam's important partners in the Balkans region.
Fourth, the visit is the result of the good cooperative relationship between the two countries on both bilateral and multilateral levels. In recent times, the two countries have successfully organized the regular meeting mechanism of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Committee (May 2024); effectively and substantially implemented many areas of cooperation between ministries, departments, branches and localities; actively coordinated in terms of viewpoints and positions and supported each other at international forums and organizations.
Fifth, the visit took place at a very meaningful time, right before Vietnam and Bulgaria prepare to enter 2025 - the year of celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations; creating great momentum for the two countries to continue their efforts to develop the relationship towards new heights.
Reporter: Bulgaria is one of the first countries in the world to recognize independence and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Ambassador, please highlight the highlights of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries over the past seven decades?
Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long: The traditional good friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria has been clearly demonstrated since 1950 when Bulgaria was one of the first 10 countries in the world to recognize and officially establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the predecessor of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
During the most difficult and arduous years of the struggle for national independence and nation building, Bulgaria always gave Vietnam valuable support both materially and spiritually. In particular, you helped train more than 3,600 scientists, experts and more than 30,000 skilled workers in many fields such as construction, architecture, information technology, biochemistry, agriculture, mechanical engineering, medicine, etc.
Many of them have become senior leaders or leading scientists, experts and engineers of Vietnam, including former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan... These are invaluable assets, positive factors contributing to strengthening the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
Promoting the above fine tradition, the Party, State, Government and people of the two countries have made unceasing efforts to cultivate and consolidate bilateral relations over the past seven decades, through the two countries regularly exchanging high-level delegations and implementing the mechanism of the Intergovernmental Committee meetings and periodic political consultations; implementing many agreements, programs and cooperation arrangements; and actively supporting each other at international forums.
Although the bilateral relationship has been somewhat interrupted due to the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the determination of senior leaders, the Vietnam-Bulgaria relationship is on track to recover and develop strongly through a series of high-level exchanges between ministries, sectors, and localities in 2023 and 2024.
During meetings at all levels, Bulgarian leaders expressed their affection and appreciation for the traditional historical relationship and expressed admiration for Vietnam's achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, and were ready to act as a bridge to promote extensive cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) and the Balkans.
Notably, Vietnam-Bulgaria trade turnover doubled from 102.5 million USD to 211.5 million USD in the 2015-2023 period and is forecast to reach approximately 300 million USD in 2024 (an increase of more than 20% compared to 2023).
Cooperation between the two countries has been implemented synchronously in recent times, achieving many positive results in all fields of politics, economics - trade, investment, education - training, science - technology, culture - tourism, national defense - security, labor, justice, through the channels of the Party, State, government and parliament.
Therefore, President Rumen Radev's upcoming visit to Vietnam is expected to continue to contribute to promoting and deepening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, especially in areas where one side has advantages and the other side has needs.
PV: According to the Ambassador, what should the two countries do to promote each other's potential and strengths in the new era of green transformation and digital transformation?
Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long: Currently, digital transformation and green transformation have become top priorities for most countries in the world, including Bulgaria.
Since 2020, the Bulgarian Government has launched the National Digital Transformation Strategy for the period 2020-2030. In 2024, the Bulgarian Government continues to update and revise the National Digital Transformation Action Program to 2030, focusing on improving people's knowledge and skills to adapt to the digital age. The information and communications technology industry currently contributes about 7.4% of Bulgaria's GDP and has been growing at double-digit rates (an average of 17%/year in the past 3 years).
Regarding green transition, at the recent 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 29), President Rumen Radev reaffirmed Bulgaria's commitment to continue reducing carbon emissions, improving energy efficiency and strengthening infrastructure to meet climate goals; affirming Bulgaria's readiness to promote cooperation between the EU and countries that share the same goal of combating climate change.
At the 24th meeting of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Committee in Sofia (May 2024), the two sides discussed many new cooperation contents, in line with international trends such as digital economy, e-government, sustainable energy development, etc.
Notably, the Bulgarian business delegation accompanying President Rumen Radev to visit Vietnam this time includes dozens of businesses in the fields of information technology and high technology. This is a very good foundation for Vietnam and Bulgaria to continue to strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences in areas where Bulgaria has strengths and Vietnam has needs and vice versa. At the same time, the two sides need to cooperate more closely in multilateral forums on climate change, and work together to adapt for a sustainable and prosperous future.
Reporter: The human factor has always been the bond that binds the strong friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria. What activities have the two countries undertaken in recent times to promote closer people-to-people exchanges, Ambassador?
Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long: It can be said that the solidarity between the people of the two countries is the most valuable asset of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria, with more than 30,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Bulgaria. Friendship organizations have actively participated in promoting people-to-people exchanges, making great contributions to maintaining, consolidating and promoting the traditional friendship between the two countries.
The Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association has participated in welcoming many Bulgarian delegations to Vietnam; regularly celebrating the Day of Culture, Education and Slavic Writing, Bulgarian Students' Day; welcoming Bulgarian teachers to Vietnam; organizing traditional Bulgarian art performances and introducing Bulgarian products to the Vietnamese market...
On the other hand, members of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Association actively promote the country, people and culture of Vietnam through practical activities. Typical examples are journalist Kadrinka Kadrinova, who has written two books (Vietnam, the Dragon and the Fairy - 2009, Miraculous Vietnam - 2022) and hundreds of articles about Vietnam; or ballet artist Tran The Chung, who gathered Bulgarian students who love Vietnam to form the pretty Non dance group, specializing in performing Vietnamese folk dances, winning many high prizes at Bulgarian art festivals.
Cultural exchange activities between the two countries continue to be maintained and expanded. In July 2024, the Lai Chau city folk music troupe impressed the Bulgarian people at the Bulgarian Street Music Festival within the framework of the Kazanlak Rose Festival 2024. Activities introducing Vietnamese culture, arts, cuisine, and tourism by the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria also attracted the attention of many local people.
Teaching and learning Vietnamese at Sofia University continues to be implemented effectively, achieving positive results. The Vietnamese language department receives increasing attention from Bulgarian students. Each year, about 30 Bulgarian students register to study Vietnamese.
The Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is a very important bridge, contributing to promoting people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries. They are united, hard-working, law-abiding and have made practical contributions to the locality, always looking towards their homeland and country.
In particular, the second generation of the community has many young people who are successful in various fields, contributing to improving the image of Vietnamese people in the host country. Typical examples are Tran Thanh Trung, a key player of the Bulgarian national U21 football team, and Do Viet Cuong, who won a Silver medal for the Bulgarian national team at the International Mathematical Olympiad.
PV: Yes, thank you, Ambassador.
Source: https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/tong-thong-bulgaria-va-phu-nhan-tham-chinh-thuc-viet-nam-vao-thoi-diem-rat-co-y-nghia-post1137343.vov
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