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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will pay official visits to the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of Bulgaria from September 21-26. (Source: VNA) |
Could you please share with us the significance and key contents of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's visit to Bulgaria this time?
The visit to Bulgaria by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue is of great significance to the relationship between the two countries.
Firstly, this is the first high-level official visit by a senior Vietnamese leader since Bulgaria established its National Assembly and Government, demonstrating the respect for Vietnam's traditional friends, as well as the desire that Bulgaria will become a bridge to promote extensive cooperation between Vietnam and EU countries.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long. (Photo: QT) |
Second, the visit received broad support and welcome from the State, Government, National Assembly, people of Bulgaria and international friends, especially since Bulgaria, despite its political regime change since 1989, still considers Vietnam a loyal friend and one of the most important partners in the Southeast Asian region.
Third, the visit took place in the context of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria that has been developing positively and still has much room to be promoted in all fields.
Fourth, the visit contributes to affirming the determination of the two countries' senior leaders to continue to bring bilateral relations to new heights, towards a strategic partnership and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations (February 8, 1950 - February 8, 2025).
With that important meaning, the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue focuses on consolidating and deepening the traditional friendship, is an opportunity to discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern; promote multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in depth, effectively and practically, especially in the fields of politics - diplomacy, defense - security, economy - trade, science - technology, education - training, culture, sports - tourism, labor and cooperation between localities.
This is also an opportunity for Vietnam's senior leaders to affirm their foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations for peace, cooperation and development, affirming that Vietnam continues to be a friend, reliable and responsible partner of international friends. In addition, the visit will also open up opportunities to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges, thereby contributing to promoting the image of Vietnam, the country and its people rising up and recovering strongly after the pandemic.
Could you please assess the parliamentary cooperation efforts between the two countries in recent times and the highlights of cooperation in the coming time?
The two countries have a good traditional friendship and cooperation, demonstrated through many visits by high-ranking leaders, in which parliamentary cooperation can be considered a bright spot in the relationship.
On the occasion of the visit to Vietnam of former Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva in April 2012, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National Assembly of Bulgaria, creating a legal basis to strengthen and further promote cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries.
Since then, the two countries' National Assemblies have maintained parliamentary delegation exchanges, notably the official visit to Bulgaria by former Party Central Committee member and former National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu in April 2018. The two sides have also actively promoted cooperation in the legislative field, shared experiences and learned from each other in reforming legal, judicial and administrative documents, building a rule-of-law state and anti-corruption laws.
Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the prolonged political instability in Bulgaria, parliamentary cooperation between the two countries cannot avoid certain unfavorable impacts, such as the fact that we had to postpone the visit to Bulgaria by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in June 2022 due to the dissolution of the Bulgarian National Assembly right before the visit.
However, I am very pleased that the visit will finally take place, thereby demonstrating the great efforts and political determination of the senior leaders, the close coordination of the two countries' National Assemblies for the relationship, cooperation and interests of the people. Therefore, I personally believe that the upcoming visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will open a new chapter in the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries in general and between the two countries' National Assemblies in particular.
| "Personally, I believe that the upcoming visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will open a new chapter in the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries in general and between the two National Assemblies in particular." |
Vietnam and Bulgaria have a long-standing friendship, closely linked with strong trust. How does the Ambassador assess the role of people-to-people exchange and cultural connection between the two countries in promoting the friendship between the two countries?
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, both material and spiritual, from the Government and people of Bulgaria.
Many economic, educational and medical projects in Vietnam have been built with the material and technical assistance and the selfless labor of Bulgarian experts. Over 30,000 Vietnamese people worked and studied in Bulgaria in the 70s and 80s of the last century to become leading scientists, experts and engineers of Vietnam, who have been and are still actively participating in making important contributions to the cause of defending the Fatherland and building the country.
These are invaluable assets and positive factors contributing to strengthening the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
In 2013, at the Mystic Voices of Bulgaria concert on the occasion of Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev's visit to Vietnam, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan sang the song "You are so beautiful, my mountains and forests" in Bulgarian in front of hundreds of Vietnamese people who had studied and lived in Bulgaria, making a strong impression on President Rosen Plevneliev.
| "During the most difficult and arduous years of the struggle for national independence and nation building, Vietnam has always received valuable support, both material and spiritual, from the Government and people of Bulgaria." |
From the close attachment to the country and people of Bulgaria, a number of Vietnamese people who used to live and study in Bulgaria established the Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association in 1999.
After more than 20 years of operation and development, the Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association has organized many meaningful activities, making great contributions to maintaining, consolidating and promoting the traditional friendship between the two countries such as participating in welcoming high-ranking Bulgarian delegations to Vietnam; coordinating with the Bulgarian Embassy in Vietnam to celebrate Bulgaria's National Day, the Day of Culture, Education and Slavey Writing, Bulgarian Students' Day, welcoming Bulgarian teachers to visit Vietnam; organizing traditional Bulgarian art performances and introducing Bulgarian products in the Vietnamese market...
Promoting overseas Vietnamese resources to develop the country is an important policy of our Party and State, and a focus of diplomatic work. Could you please share your efforts to promote overseas Vietnamese resources in Bulgaria?
Compared to other countries in Eastern Europe, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is relatively small. There are currently about 1,000 people, residing mainly in the capital Sofia, the rest are scattered in some other provinces and cities such as Pernik, Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Varna, Pleven, Ruse, Vidin...
Although not numerous, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is very united, oriented towards the homeland, hard-working, strictly abiding by local laws as well as the Party and State's guidelines and policies, and actively participating in activities and movements launched and organized by domestic authorities and representative agencies.
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.
Some outstanding activities of Vietnamese associations in Bulgaria in recent times include: Close coordination with the Embassy in high-level foreign affairs activities (Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Bulgaria in 2015; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh visited Bulgaria in 2018, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan visited Bulgaria in 2021...); Organizing an exhibition on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's visit to Bulgaria (1957 - 2017), introducing traditional culture, the beauty of the country and people of Vietnam at the annual Asian Fair...
In addition, Vietnamese associations in Bulgaria also actively responded and participated in movements towards the homeland and country such as Visiting the people and soldiers of Truong Sa island district, Hung Kings' death anniversary, Spring Homeland, Summer Camp or supporting compatriots in the country affected by natural disasters...; 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...); 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 the occasion of Children's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival...
Currently, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria is also actively coordinating with the Embassy to contribute to the successful organization of activities within the framework of the official visit to Bulgaria of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.
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