Việtnam and Bulgaria Elevate Ties to Strategic Partnership During Talks in Sofia

Sofia, The Gulf Observer: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việtnam Central Committee Tô Lâm held talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at the Presidential Palace in Sofia on Thursday, reaffirming that Việtnam attaches great importance to its long-standing relations with Bulgaria.

The meeting took place as the two countries mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, underscoring their shared commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

President Radev warmly welcomed General Secretary Lâm’s first official visit to Bulgaria, highlighting Việtnam’s significant role and growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region. He praised Việtnam’s consistent foreign policy, which contributes to regional peace, stability, and development. Recalling his visit to Việtnam in November 2024, President Radev expressed admiration for the country’s rapid socio-economic progress, reform achievements, and the warmth and hospitality of its people. He affirmed that Bulgaria values its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Việtnam and seeks to expand joint efforts for sustainable development and prosperity in both nations and across the two continents.

General Secretary Lâm expressed deep gratitude to President Radev for the respectful and cordial reception accorded to the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. He emphasized that Việtnam always treasures its friendship with Bulgaria and sincerely appreciates the valuable support of the Bulgarian people during Việt Nam’s struggle for national liberation and reunification, as well as in its current nation-building and development efforts.

During the talks, both leaders exchanged views on national development orientations and agreed that Việt Nam and Bulgaria share common goals, policies, and complementary potentials. They expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in bilateral relations and discussed practical measures to deepen cooperation.

A key outcome of the meeting was the announcement of the upgrade of Việt Nam–Bulgaria relations to a Strategic Partnership, making Bulgaria the first country in the Balkan region to achieve this level of cooperation with Việt Nam.

Under the new framework, the two sides agreed to develop and promptly implement a Strategic Partnership Action Plan, focusing on expanding collaboration in areas where Bulgaria has strengths and Việtnam has development needs.

Both leaders also agreed to bolster political trust through enhanced exchanges and contacts at all levels — Party, State, parliamentary, and people-to-people. In light of global economic challenges, they underlined the importance of economic, trade, and investment cooperation as a central pillar of the Strategic Partnership.

President Radev emphasized the need to facilitate business and investment opportunities for enterprises from both countries. He welcomed the participation of numerous Vietnamese companies in the Việt Nam–Bulgaria Business Forum held during General Secretary Lâm’s visit.

The two sides agreed to boost trade and investment by opening markets and effectively leveraging the EU–Việtnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), with the shared goal of doubling bilateral trade turnover in the coming years.

The talks marked a historic milestone in Việtnam–Bulgaria relations, opening a new chapter of comprehensive and strategic cooperation for shared growth and mutual benefit.