"New wind" pushes the boat of Vietnam-Bulgaria cooperation

In an interview with TG&VN ahead of the visit of the Chairman of the Bulgarian National Assembly, Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long affirmed that parliamentary cooperation is considered a bright spot in bilateral relations in recent times, contributing positively to the development and expansion of good relations between the two countries.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visits the Vietnamese community during his visit to Bulgaria, September 2023. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria)

Could the Ambassador share the significance and key contents of this visit to Vietnam by Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Rosen Zhelyazkov?

The visit to Vietnam by Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Rosen Zhelyazkov in the first days of 2024 took place in the context that Bulgaria has achieved certain achievements in political stability, socio-economic recovery and development, and promoting regional and international integration.

This is a very important visit to the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries, the first visit to Vietnam by a Bulgarian high-ranking leader in more than 10 years since 2013. At the same time, this is also a return visit by the Chairman of the Bulgarian National Assembly right after the delegation of the National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue paid an official visit to Bulgaria in September 2023.

This demonstrates the respect, good feelings and loyalty of the country and people of Bulgaria for Vietnam. Bulgaria always considers Vietnam a traditional friend and one of the most important partners in the Southeast Asian region.

Furthermore, the visit will also contribute to promoting cooperation between the two countries to continue to develop effectively and substantially in all fields, aiming to bring bilateral relations to a new height, towards a Strategic Partnership and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Bulgaria diplomatic relations (February 8, 1950 - February 8, 2025).

In that spirit, the visit of the head of the Bulgarian National Assembly will, on the one hand, focus on strengthening and further cultivating the good political relationship between the two countries through the channels of the Party, State, Government and people. On the other hand, the visit will also be an opportunity to open up new cooperation opportunities in many potential areas where both sides have strengths such as trade - investment, education - training, health, culture, tourism, labor and cooperation between localities.

Through the diverse and rich working program of National Assembly Chairman Rosen Zhelyazkov with senior Vietnamese leaders, we will also consistently affirm the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations, conveying the message that Vietnam is a trustworthy friend, a partner for sustainable peace and a responsible member of the international community.

During the visit, we will arrange a number of unique cultural and artistic performances to promote the image of Vietnam, the country and its people, which are hospitable, peace-loving, and always striving to rise up and recover strongly after the pandemic.

During the visit to Bulgaria in September 2023 of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the two sides signed a number of documents, including the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Office of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Secretariat of the Bulgarian National Assembly. Could the Ambassador tell us about the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in the past time and the key cooperation areas of the National Assembly channel as well as cooperation between the two countries in general in the coming time?

The visit to Bulgaria by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in September 2023 was a great success, with many cooperation agreements in various fields, notably two parliamentary cooperation documents: the Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Bulgarian National Assembly and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Bulgarian National Assembly Secretariat.

These are all important cooperation documents that contribute to enhancing cooperation, regular, practical and effective exchanges between the legislative bodies of the two countries; promoting traditional friendship and inter-parliamentary cooperation on bilateral and multilateral levels; and improving the quality of advisory work serving National Assembly deputies, committees and groups of parliamentarians.

Ambassador Do Hoang Long and his wife welcomed guests attending the 78th National Day Celebration of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria)

It can be said that in recent times, parliamentary cooperation has been considered a bright spot in the Vietnam - Bulgaria relationship, creating a new wind to push the Vietnam - Bulgaria cooperation boat to continue to develop and expand the good relationship between the two countries.

Through official and working visits of high-level delegations, such as the delegation of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visiting Bulgaria in September 2023, the delegation of former National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu visiting Bulgaria in April 2018 or the delegation of former Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Tsetska Tsacheva visiting Vietnam in April 2012.

During these visits, activities to exchange experiences in the fields of legislation, supervision and decision-making on important national issues or forms of sharing information, viewpoints and consultations on regional and international issues of mutual concern were extensively discussed.

In that spirit and to effectively implement the important cooperation documents that have just been signed, the focus of cooperation on the National Assembly channel in the coming time is expected to focus on: (i) Strengthening the organization of exchanges of delegations at the National Assembly Leadership level, Committee level, and Friendship Parliamentarians' Groups of the two sides; between the Bulgarian Young Parliamentarians' Group and the Vietnamese Young National Assembly Deputies' Group; the Vietnamese Women's National Assembly Deputies' Group and the Bulgarian Women's Parliamentarians' Group; between the Bulgarian National Assembly Secretariat and the Vietnamese National Assembly Office; (ii) Organizing conferences, seminars, in-person and online conferences between the two sides; (iii) Exchanging information and experience in the field of parliamentary activities; (iv) Exchange and consultation within the framework of regional and international inter-parliamentary conferences and forums.

The Bulgarian National Assembly has ratified the Vietnam – European Union Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) right before the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. So, according to the Ambassador, how should the two sides exploit the advantages that EVIPA brings to boost bilateral trade?

The Vietnam - European Union Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) was ratified by the Bulgarian National Assembly right before the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in September 2023. Bulgaria's approval of EVIPA creates an important legal foundation for businesses of both countries to enhance trade and investment cooperation. This can be considered a positive highlight contributing to Vietnam's efforts in promoting and mobilizing European Union (EU) member countries to soon ratify the Agreement.

When officially effective, EVIPA will create a complete and unified legal framework for investment activities between EU countries and Vietnam in general and between Bulgaria and Vietnam in particular, contributing to strengthening businesses' confidence in improving and enhancing the competitiveness of the investment and business environment of the two countries.

To effectively exploit the advantages brought by EVIPA, Vietnam needs to carefully prepare for implementation, including continuing to improve the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy and readiness to take advantage of opportunities from the Agreement, through promoting investment attraction in a number of areas where the EU has potential, strengths and high-quality investment capital such as high-tech processing and manufacturing industry, clean energy, renewable energy, services, etc.

EVIPA will also pose greater challenges, requiring Vietnamese authorities to continue to coordinate to perfect institutions, policies, and laws to ensure consistency, synchronization, fairness, transparency, non-discrimination, and to perfect the legal corridor in accordance with the procedures and roadmap that Vietnam committed to in EVIPA.

In addition, Vietnamese enterprises also need to promptly approach and learn about the commitments in the EVIPA Agreement, in parallel with referring to the commitments of the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to be more proactive in investment cooperation activities, doing business with Bulgarian enterprises, protecting the legitimate and legal rights of workers, avoiding complicated disputes and unnecessary risks.

I believe that when the EVIPA Investment Protection Agreement is ratified by EU countries and comes into effect, together with the EVFTA, it will be a boost for trade and investment activities between Bulgaria and Vietnam in the coming time.

Previously, Bulgaria has helped train many cadres and technicians, including many high-ranking Vietnamese leaders. So how will the cooperation between the two countries in this field be recently and in the future, Ambassador?

On February 8, 1950, 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, Vietnam has always received valuable support in both material and spiritual terms from the Government and people of Bulgaria, including Bulgaria's assistance in training more than 3,600 scientists, experts and more than 30,000 skilled workers in many fields such as construction, architecture, information technology, biochemistry, agriculture, machinery manufacturing and medicine...

Many of them have become high-ranking Vietnamese leaders such as former National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung or former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan. Many leading Vietnamese scientists, experts and engineers have been actively participating in making important contributions to the cause of defending the Fatherland and building the country. These are invaluable assets, positive factors contributing to strengthening the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

In order to promote the above fine tradition, in recent times, traditional cooperation areas such as education - training, cultural exchange, tourism, labor have continued to develop positively... through many agreements and related documents that were extended and newly signed during the visit to Bulgaria of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, which outlined many important contents and directions for cooperation in the coming time.

Regarding education and training, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in training, scientific research and exchange of lecturers, researchers and students between universities and research centers in areas of strength such as medicine, biotechnology, agriculture, environment and natural resource management.

Regarding labor cooperation, the two sides promoted the effective implementation of the Labor Cooperation Agreement signed in 2018, creating conditions for businesses of the two countries to send skilled workers to work long-term or seasonally in a number of in-demand fields such as agriculture, industry, construction and tourism.

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, food fairs, etc., creating conditions for the public of the two countries to better understand the cultures of the two countries; thereby contributing to promoting cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

I believe that this will be the basis for the two countries to create a breakthrough in cooperation, making substantive and meaningful contributions to promoting bilateral relations to new heights in the coming time, towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Bulgaria diplomatic relations (1950 - 2025).

The Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is considered a stable community, well integrated with the local community, and a “bridge” in the good traditional relationship between the two countries. How does the Ambassador evaluate the role of people-to-people exchange and cultural connection between the two countries through this “bridge” in promoting friendship between the two countries?

Compared to other countries in Eastern Europe, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is relatively small. There are currently about 1,000 people, mainly living and working in the capital Sofia; a small number in other cities such as Pernik, Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Pleven, Ruse, Vidin, etc.

In general, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is united, hard-working, complies with local laws, and actively participates in activities and movements launched and organized by domestic authorities and the Embassy.

Associations and associations in the community (Vietnamese Association, Women's Association, Business Association, etc.) have been playing a good role in uniting and gathering the masses in the community, looking towards the homeland and country as well as preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity of Vietnam in the locality.

The image of young Bulgarians in traditional Vietnamese costumes, dancing to Vietnamese music, attracted special attention from the audience. (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria)

In recent times, organizations and individuals in the community have actively coordinated with the Embassy in organizing high-level foreign affairs activities, including recent activities within the framework of the official visit to Bulgaria by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue; implementing many good initiatives, promoting the role of a "bridge" to help enhance people-to-people exchanges and promote Vietnamese culture in Bulgaria.

Some outstanding activities of the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria in 2023 include associations and unions proactively organizing meaningful activities on the occasion of National Day, traditional New Year or important events (War Invalids and Martyrs Day, founding of the People's Army, etc.); reopening summer Vietnamese language classes for children of the community, organizing cultural and sports exchanges with the Vietnamese community in neighboring countries, organizing gift giving on Children's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, etc.

In February 2023, the Vietnamese Association in Bulgaria organized a charity fundraiser to support the people of Türkiye (Bulgaria's neighboring country) after the earthquake disaster, demonstrating the tradition of mutual love and helping each other of the Vietnamese people, which was highly appreciated by the people of Bulgaria and Türkiye.

The Vietnamese Women's Association in Bulgaria established the "Lotus" Dance Club, regularly organizing rehearsals for special performances (conical hat dance, lotus dance, fan dance, etc.) and participating in performances at Asian cultural festivals. In April 2023, ballet artist Tran Chung established the "Non Xinh" Dance Club consisting of Bulgarian students studying Vietnamese.

The image of young Bulgarians in traditional Vietnamese costumes, dancing to Vietnamese music, attracted special attention from the audience. Although the Non Xinh Club was newly established, it has won high prizes at a number of art competitions in Bulgaria, such as First Prize at the Sao Mai Pernik National Dance Competition in April 2023; Second Prize at the Sozopol International Youth Arts Festival in July 2023.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lan-gio-moi-day-con-thuyen-hop-tac-viet-nam-bulgaria-256118.html