President Quang receives outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam

The State leader expressed his pleasure at the achievements attained by Bulgaria in the process of European integration and national development over the past few years, whilst highly appreciating the role and position played by Bulgaria in the European Union (EU), in addition to the country's assumption of the rotating EU presidency from January 2018.

He called on the Bulgarian side to support Vietnam in strengthening its ties with the EU and to accelerate the prompt signing and ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Vietnam is willing to help Bulgaria and the EU to enhance their relations with the ASEAN bloc and its member states, he affirmed.

Touching on the fine traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary, President Quang suggested that both sides maintain the exchange of high-level delegations in order to discuss measures with which to further deepen their collaboration across all spheres, whilst promptly conducting the 24^th meeting of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Inter-governmental Committee on economic, trade and scientific cooperation, with practical and specific projects, towards increasing their two-way trade turnover in the time ahead.

The host thanked Bulgaria for helping to train thousands of officials for Vietnam, asking the two sides to encourage training institutions to increase the number of annual scholarships for tertiary and post-graduate training programmes.

Vietnam spoke highly of the close and effective coordination between the two countries at international organisations and forums, the leader emphasised, thanking Bulgaria for having backed Vietnam's candidacy for the Executive Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) (2015-2019 tenure), the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) (2016-2018 tenure) and the nonpermanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (2020-2021 tenure).

(Source: NDO)

On the occasion, President Quang extended his regards and wishes for good health to the Bulgarian President and other leaders of the country, voicing his hopes that Ambassador Ebgueni Stefanov Stoytchev would make continuous contributions to fostering the fine traditional relationship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

For his part, Bulgarian Ambassador Ebgueni Stefanov Stoytchev affirmed that Bulgaria and Vietnam are long-standing friends and partners. Bulgaria always supports Vietnam at international organisations and forums, he said, expressing his thanks for the support offered by the Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities during his working tenure in the country.

The diplomat voiced his belief that after the EVFTA has officially been ratified, there would be more opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the EU as a whole, and with Bulgaria in particular.

Mentioning the opportunities and challenges brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Ambassador Ebgueni Stefanov Stoytchev said that he believes Vietnam would devise timely strategies to direct the development of the country, whilst affirming Bulgaria's constant support for Vietnam during the process.

He also shared that a lot of activities have been held in Bulgaria so far this year to mark 60 years since President Ho Chi Minh's visit to the country, including a photo exhibition on the life and revolutionary career of the President.