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| Leaders of Sofia University of National and International Economics welcomed National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. (Source: VNA) |
As part of his official visit to Bulgaria, on the afternoon of September 25, in the capital Sofia, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visited and delivered an important policy speech to scholars, professors, lecturers and a large number of students at the Sofia University of National and International Economics. This is a famous higher economic school with a century-old history.
President Vuong Dinh Hue's speech focused on the current world and regional situation and the good traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
Continuously fostering and developing Vietnam-Bulgaria relations
In his speech, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that with historical similarities, Vietnam and Bulgaria have been bound together by a loyal and steadfast friendship. Over the past 7 decades, since Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the world to recognize Vietnam's independence and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam, the Vietnam-Bulgaria relationship has been continuously nurtured and developed by generations of leaders and people of the two countries.
President Ho Chi Minh's friendly visit to Bulgaria in August 1957 laid the foundation and was an important milestone in the history of relations between the two countries.
The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that the Vietnamese people always remember and are deeply grateful for the valuable support and assistance that the Bulgarian people have given to Vietnam.
The Vietnamese people still vividly remember the images of thousands of Bulgarian students taking to the streets to protest against the war; workers in many Bulgarian factories and plants giving up 1-2 days of salary to support and help the Vietnamese people; a series of Bulgarian experts and engineers coming to Vietnam to support Vietnam in building the Viet-Bun Hospital in Thai Binh province, the Viet-Bun Kindergarten in the capital Hanoi...
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue speaks about Vietnam-Bulgaria bilateral relations and cooperation policies. (Source: VNA) |
Analyzing the current regional and world situation, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the world has never entered a period of rapid, profound and complex change like today, but peace, cooperation and development are still the main trends.
The National Assembly Chairman emphasized: "A world without war and hunger and poverty is the burning desire and dream of all peoples and nations in the world. It is the common denominator for all bilateral and multilateral cooperation at both the regional and global levels."
In the context of war and conflicts taking place in many places, and strategic competition between major countries becoming increasingly fierce and complicated, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that Vietnam supports resolving all disputes and conflicts by peaceful means, based on international law.
Vietnam proactively participates in and promotes its role in regional multilateral mechanisms and the United Nations (UN), especially ASEAN, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the UN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the Asia-Europe Cooperation Forum (ASEM), the Non-Aligned Movement, etc., actively and responsibly contributing with partners, contributing to building a peaceful and stable international order, ensuring the legitimate interests of all peoples, on the basis of respect for international law and the UN Charter.
4 directions of cooperation in Vietnam-Bulgaria relations
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also stated that in Vietnam's foreign policy, the Central Eastern European region plays a very important role, being the gateway and bridge for Vietnam to strengthen cooperation with the European Union (EU). Vietnam prioritizes promoting traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with countries in the region, of which Bulgaria is one of the top priority partners.
With a history of friendship and sincere and effective cooperation, aiming to elevate the relationship to a new height, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue outlined a number of major cooperation orientations in the Vietnam-Bulgaria bilateral relationship in the coming time.
Specifically, the first is to deepen political and diplomatic relations. To enhance political trust between the two countries, the National Assembly Chairman proposed promoting contacts and exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, through all channels of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and people-to-people exchanges; enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation and mutual support between the two National Assemblies in the context of Vietnam promoting the building of a rule-of-law state, perfecting the legal system, and enhancing the role of the National Assembly and elected bodies.
In addition to bilateral cooperation, the legislative bodies of the two countries need to promote cooperation, exchange views, and closely coordinate at inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP), etc.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also requested relevant ministries and sectors of the two sides to continue effectively implementing existing cooperation mechanisms, while studying and promoting specialized cooperation in new areas of mutual interest and strength. Vietnam hopes that Bulgaria, as a traditional friend and country, will act as a bridge to promote Vietnam's relations with the EU. Vietnam is ready to serve as a gateway for Bulgaria to further strengthen cooperation with ASEAN.
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue speaks. (Source: VNA) |
The second is to expand economic - investment - trade cooperation to become an important pillar in bilateral relations in the coming time. In that spirit, according to the National Assembly Chairman, the two sides need to actively implement agreements and measures to promote cooperation within the framework of the Vietnam - Bulgaria Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation to remove obstacles, create breakthroughs in investment - trade, thereby contributing to sustainable economic recovery and development.
With their strategic geopolitical position, role and position in each region, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the two countries can fully take advantage of this to bring competitive goods and products into the regional market.
In addition, with new generation agreements that the two countries are members of such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), etc., businesses of the two countries can explore cooperation in fields and industries with strengths as well as take advantage of preferential policies to create products with high value and competitiveness.
Along with that, it is necessary to promote cooperation between localities with unique characteristics and similarities in economy and society towards the goal of establishing partnerships and twinning in areas where both sides have strengths to increase investment attraction, trade and tourism development.
Third is connecting cooperation in the field of digital transformation and innovation. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the two countries need to seize the great opportunities that digital transformation, green economy, innovation trends, etc. are bringing.
Accordingly, it is necessary to accelerate new economic cooperation and linkage initiatives at regional and global levels. At the same time, continue efforts to promote the building of a new global form that is fairer and more sustainable for all countries and economies.
According to National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the challenges are huge, but they are also the driving force for all countries to innovate strongly and develop. Bulgaria is a country in the region with competitive advantages in areas such as cloud computing, big data, automation, blockchain technology, etc. Vietnam is also on the path of strong digital transformation, through the National Digital Transformation Program to 2025, with a vision to 2030.
Vietnam has also built the National Innovation Center and will inaugurate it at the end of October 2023 - expected to be the largest center for technology, science, innovation, and startups in the region, gathering a large number of experts, intellectuals, scientists, and leading businesses in the world to promote the innovation ecosystem, and is also a place to regularly organize exhibitions, forums, and specialized scientific seminars at national and regional scales.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his hope that Vietnam and Bulgaria will cooperate specifically in this innovative and breakthrough field.
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue delivers a policy speech on the bilateral relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria. (Source: VNA) |
Fourth, promote effective cooperation in traditional fields. In particular, in education and training, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in training and scientific research between universities and research centers in areas of strength that Bulgaria and Vietnam have demand for, such as: healthcare, biotechnology, agriculture, environment and natural resource management.
In terms of culture, the two sides continue to coordinate in organizing cultural and artistic activities such as Cultural Days, painting exhibitions, film weeks, art performances, etc., creating conditions for the public of the two countries to better understand the cultures of the two countries.
Regarding labor cooperation, the two sides promoted the effective implementation of the Labor Cooperation Agreement signed in 2018 with the coordination of the two governments. Recently, the two sides have signed a number of contracts to send Vietnamese workers to Bulgaria to work, but the number is still very modest.
It is known that Bulgaria has a need to receive foreign workers with skills in agriculture, industry and construction. With an abundant, trained, hardworking young workforce working in many countries around the world, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said this will be the basis for the two sides to create a breakthrough in cooperation in this field.
Citing the profound and humane verses of Bulgarian Vice President and female writer Blaga Dimitrova written in 1969 after many visits to Vietnam amidst the flames of fierce war: “I am a guest visiting your home/When your bamboo house is burning/You welcome me/One hand wipes away tears/The other hand holds my hand tightly…”, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue shared that the touching image will forever remain in his heart as a wonderful symbol of the loyal brotherly solidarity between Vietnam and Bulgaria, despite the changing times, it remains intact and shining.
People's participation in the Renovation process is both a driving force and a goal.
After his policy speech, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had an open discussion with lecturers and students of the Sofia University of International and National Economics about Vietnam's lessons, how Vietnam was able to overcome all difficulties after the war ended and achieve great and comprehensive achievements, becoming a source of inspiration for other countries as it is today, as well as what are the most potential areas of cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria in the coming time.
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| Delegates attending the program. (Source: VNA) |
Believing that each country will have its own path and way of development, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also shared specific lessons learned from Vietnam over 35 years of implementing the Doi Moi process.
Regarding foreign affairs, the National Assembly Chairman stated that Vietnam consistently implements a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification, multilateralization, proactively and actively integrating into the international community in a comprehensive, deep and effective manner, being a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community.
In that spirit, Vietnam is ready to close the past, narrow differences, enhance harmony and mutual understanding to enhance cooperation for common goals in the world.
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that to date, Vietnam has diplomatic relations with 193 countries, including 30 strategic and comprehensive partners. Most recently, on September 10, 2023, during President Joe Biden's state visit at the invitation of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam and the United States established a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development. Vietnam has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with five countries, including countries that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. The Vietnamese National Assembly has relations with more than 140 parliaments around the world.
Regarding domestic affairs, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue especially emphasized the lesson of "taking people as the root". All decisions of the National Assembly and the Government must take people and businesses as the center.
The National Assembly Chairman also stated: "We consider people's participation in the Doi Moi process as both a driving force and a goal. Without people's participation, the Doi Moi process cannot be successful and the Doi Moi process itself is meaningless if the people do not enjoy the results of the reform. Vietnam also identifies culture and people as the most important resources for national development."
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