At the invitation of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, General Secretary To Lam and his wife, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria from October 22-24.
The visit takes place in the context of the two countries celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025 (February 8, 1950 - February 8, 2025), contributing to consolidating and further strengthening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria, while opening up new strategic cooperation spaces between the two countries in the coming time.
75 years of traditional friendship developing well
Vietnam and Bulgaria have a traditional friendship, the two countries established diplomatic relations on February 8, 1950. President Ho Chi Minh 's official visit to Bulgaria in August 1957 laid the foundation and marked an important milestone in the history of relations between the two countries.
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 selfless labor of Bulgarian experts.
Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Rossen Jeliazkov visits the Vietnam-Bulgaria Kindergarten (Hanoi, 2024). (Photo: Minh Duc/VNA)
Many Vietnamese people worked and studied in Bulgaria in the 70s and 80s of the 20th century to become leading scientists, experts and engineers of Vietnam, who have been actively participating and making important contributions to the cause of defending the Fatherland and building the country. These are invaluable assets, positive factors contributing to strengthening the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
Promoting that fine tradition, the Party, State, Government and people of the two countries have continuously made efforts to cultivate and strengthen bilateral relations over the past seven decades, through regular exchanges of high-level delegations and implementation of the mechanism of Intergovernmental Committee meetings and periodic political consultations; implementing many agreements, programs and cooperation arrangements; and actively supporting each other at international forums.
The good political relationship is marked by many high-level visits between the two sides, notably the visits to Bulgaria by: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (September 2000); National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong (June 2008); Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung paid an official visit to Bulgaria on the occasion of the two countries celebrating 65 years of diplomatic relations (June 2015); Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (October 2021); Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien met with Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov on the sidelines of the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in the UAE (February 2024); General Secretary and President To Lam met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev on the occasion of attending the Future Summit and the High-level General Debate of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA (September 2024); President Luong Cuong met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov on the occasion of attending the High-level General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States (September 23, 2025); Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang paid a working visit (September 2025)...
On the occasion of attending the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and working in the United States, on the morning of September 24, 2024, in New York City, General Secretary and President To Lam met with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)
On the Bulgarian side, there were visits to Vietnam by: Speaker of the National Assembly Ognian Gherdjikov (March 2004); Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev (November 2006); President Georgi Parvanov (January 2009); Speaker of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva (April 2012); President Rosen Plevneliev (October 2013); Prime Minister Plamen Vasilev Oresharski (April 2014); Vice President Margarita Popova (November 2015); Minister of Economy Emil Karanikolov (September 2018); Speaker of the National Assembly Rossen Dimitrov Jeliazkov (January 2024); President Rumen Radev paid an official visit (November 2024)...
During high-level and all-level meetings, 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) countries and the Balkans region.
Currently, the two countries have a cooperation mechanism of the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, which recently held its 24th Session in the capital Sofia in May 2024.
In addition, the two countries signed a new economic and trade agreement, granting each other most-favored-nation status in March 2001; the two countries' foreign ministries signed a cooperation protocol in September 2012.
The two countries also cooperate closely at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN-EU cooperation, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Bulgaria considers Vietnam a reliable bridge to help Bulgaria penetrate the ASEAN market and is also ready to become a bridgehead to help Vietnam actively access the EU market.
Effective cooperation in many fields
Economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria has seen positive developments in recent times. Bulgaria is one of the European Union (EU) countries taking the lead in ratifying the Vietnam-EU Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA), as well as promoting the signing and ratification of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
Vietnam's main export items to Bulgaria include cotton, coffee beans, natural rubber, rice, cashew nuts, clothes, handbags, leather shoes... In the photo: Sewing bags, backpacks, and handbags of Ladoda Leather Products Production, Service, Import-Export and Trade Company. (Photo: Tuan Anh/VNA)
In September 2023, the Bulgarian National Assembly ratified the Vietnam-European Union Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) with an overwhelming majority of votes in favor. This is very meaningful, demonstrating the importance of the traditional friendship and cooperation in many fields between the two countries, while creating a solid and favorable legal basis for businesses of the two countries to expand investment cooperation in the coming time after the agreement comes into effect.
Bilateral trade turnover in 2020 reached 118.7 million USD; in 2021 reached 234.6 million USD; in 2022 reached 203.6 million USD; in 2023 reached 211.5 million USD; in 2024 reached 263.01 million USD; in the first 6 months of 2025 reached nearly 110 million USD. Vietnam exports many strong products to Bulgaria, especially agricultural products, textiles and light industry.
Regarding investment, Bulgaria currently has 14 valid investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 35 million USD. Of which, the two largest projects of Bulgaria in Vietnam are the Instant Coffee Processing Factory Project in Lam Dong Province (14 million USD) and the Knitting and Garment Company Limited Project in Thua Thien Hue Province (14 million USD).
Bulgarian businesses are increasingly interested in the Vietnamese market in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, renewable energy, agricultural processing and logistics.
Bulgaria's Burgas port. (Photo: Doan Tan/VNA)
In contrast, Vietnamese enterprises consider Bulgaria a "gateway" to the European Union (EU) market, thanks to its strategic geographical location, developed transport infrastructure and strongly improved business environment.
Bulgaria is also considered a potential location with reasonable production costs, suitable for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in the production of processed agricultural products, textiles, and footwear, thereby expanding their presence in the European market.
Labor cooperation is emerging as a promising new direction in bilateral relations. Faced with Bulgaria's shortage of human resources, more and more Vietnamese workers are coming to work in the fields of construction, mechanics, food processing, health care, etc.
Vietnamese labor force is highly appreciated for its skills, discipline and sense of responsibility, leaving a good impression in Bulgarian society. Both sides wish to establish a new cooperation mechanism on labor, aiming at sustainable, humane and mutually beneficial cooperation, while strengthening the connection between the two peoples.
Educational and scientific cooperation continues to be a bright spot in bilateral relations. Every year, the two sides maintain student and postgraduate exchange under the Educational Cooperation Agreement between the two Governments.
Many universities and research institutes have signed academic and research cooperation agreements. In the 2025-2026 academic year, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training will send Vietnamese language lecturers to teach at Sofia University for the first time, marking a new development in academic and language exchanges.
Deputy Director General of VNA Doan Thi Tuyet Nhung and Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Kiril Valchev signed a cooperation agreement on professional exchange between the two news agencies (Sofia, 2023). (Photo: Phuong Ha/VNA)
The two countries have signed a Cooperation Program for the 2025-2028 period and are studying to expand training cooperation in Bulgaria's strong fields such as information technology, cyber security, e-government, public administration...
The two sides have carried out a number of scientific research cooperation tasks; established a Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, focusing on the fields of biotechnology, agriculture, information and communication technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green energy, etc.
Regarding cultural and tourism cooperation, the two countries signed the Cultural Cooperation Program for the 2024-2026 period and the Tourism Cooperation Plan for the 2024-2026 period.
After Vietnam decided to exempt visas for Bulgarian citizens from August 2025, tourism businesses of the two countries have promoted cooperation in connecting tours, especially towards cultural, heritage and beach resort tourism.
In addition, the two sides are studying the possibility of cooperation in the fields of sports and creative culture, taking advantage of Bulgaria's strengths in gymnastics, classical music and theatre arts.
Professor-Doctor of Science Stoyan Burov, former Vice Rector of Veliko Tarnovo University (Bulgaria), presented the second edition of the Bun-Vietnamese Dictionary to delegates at the "Back to Memory" Friendship Exchange Program and launched the second edition of the Vietnamese-Bun Dictionary (April 13, 2023). (Photo: VNA)
People-to-people exchanges between the two countries are constantly expanding. The Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association and the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Association regularly coordinate to organize photo exhibitions, friendship exchanges, film screenings and events promoting Vietnamese culture and cuisine in Bulgaria, contributing to strengthening the relationship and enhancing understanding between the two peoples.
Local cooperation is also taking place actively. Localities of the two countries proactively seek opportunities for twinning and development cooperation, contributing to deepening bilateral cooperation.
The Vietnamese community currently living in Bulgaria has about 1,200 people, well integrated into the host country, becoming a bridge bringing the two peoples of Vietnam and Bulgaria closer and achieving many good results.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Minh Nguyet assessed that these comprehensive results show that the Vietnam-Bulgaria relationship is entering a more dynamic, substantial and comprehensive development phase, based on the foundation of traditional friendship, political trust and close attachment between the two peoples.
With the foundation of traditional friendship and positive developments in recent times, the official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria by General Secretary To Lam and his wife along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation from October 22-24 is an event of great significance.
The visit marks the first time the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam has visited Bulgaria in 50 years, marking a new development step in the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria. The visit demonstrates the importance of the traditional friendship partnership and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria, and at the same time contributes to opening up new strategic cooperation spaces between the two countries in the coming time such as: renewable energy, high technology, AI, digital transformation, green transformation...
According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Minh Nguyet, General Secretary To Lam's visit to Bulgaria is a symbol of political trust, loyal attachment and common aspiration of the two peoples, creating new momentum to elevate Vietnam-Bulgaria relations to a new height, worthy of the 75-year tradition of friendship and the great potential for cooperation between the two countries in two important geostrategic positions in Southeast Asia and Southeast Europe./.
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong and Kazanlak City Mayor Stephan Damianov participate in a performance following traditional Bulgarian customs (2008). (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)
(Vietnam+)
Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/mo-ra-nhung-khong-gian-hop-tac-moi-giua-viet-nam-va-bulgaria-post1071800.vnp
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