State leader receives outgoing Bulgarian ambassador
President Vo Van Thuong applauded contributions by Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova to the countries’ relations while receiving the outgoing diplomat in Hanoi on June 9.
President Vo Van Thuong (R) meets with outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova in Hanoi on June 9. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – President VoVan Thuong applauded contributions by Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam MarinelaPetkova to the countries’ relations while receiving the outgoing diplomat inHanoi on June 9.
The State leader congratulated Petkovaon her excellent fulfillment of tasks in Vietnam, with various substantialcontributions to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperationbetween the two countries.
Thanking Vietnamese authorities forcreating optimal conditions for her to perform duties, the ambassador affirmedthat Bulgaria always treasures the time-tested friendship with Vietnam andwishes to step up bilateral multifaceted cooperation.
She recalled the Bulgaria visit by Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan in 2021, describingthe trip as a demonstration of Vietnamese and Bulgarian leaders’ wish tostrengthen bilateral ties. She also highlighted the strong recovery of tradebetween the two countries since the COVID-19 pandemic was brought undercontrol.
Petkova pledged that in any positionin the future, she will continue helping foster the countries’ relations.
She also took this occasion to conveythe Bulgarian President’s invitation for a visit the European country to PresidentThuong.
The meeting between President Vo Van Thuong and Bulgarian Ambassador Marinela Petkova in Hanoi on June 9. (Photo: VNA)
Appreciating the invitation, viaAmbassador Petkova, President Thuong also invited his Bulgarian counterpart tovisit Vietnam soon.
He expressed his belief that on thebasis of the long-standing friendship, Vietnam - Bulgaria relations will developeven further in the future. He also called on both sides to increase meetingsat all levels so as to fuel the development of partnerships in all spheres.
The President held that bilateraltrade has been growing strongly in the recent past but yet to match potentialand both sides’ expectations.
He asked the two countries to convene the 24th meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee oneconomic, trade, and scientific cooperation in 2023. The leader also recommendedBulgaria soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA)and create conditions for businesses and investors of the EU, Bulgaria, andVietnam to further engage in each other’s markets.
Vietnam and Bulgaria should maintaincooperation and mutual support at international forums, he added.
President Thuong highly valued Bulgaria’s creation of favourable conditionsfor Vietnamese people to live, study, and work in the European country, suggesting thetwo sides step up people-to-people exchanges and tourism so that more Bulgariantourists can come to Vietnam.
He also thanked Bulgaria for helping Vietnam with manpower training,which he said is a contribution to bilateral connections./.
President Vo Van Thuong on March 3 extended greetings to his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev on the occasion of the Day of Liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Dominion (Bulgaria’s national day – March 3, 1878-2023).
The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) have freshly sealed a cooperation pact on professional exchanges during VNA Deputy Director General Doan Thi Tuyet Nhung’s working trip to Bulgaria from June 1-5.
During her working visit to Bulgaria on June 1 – 5, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Doan Thi Tuyet Nhung and General Director of the Bulgarian News Agency Kiril Valchev signed a professional cooperation agreement.
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) presented the commemorative medal “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” to Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 6, as she is finishing her tenure here.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
President Vo Van Thuong (R) meets with outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova in Hanoi on June 9. (Photo: VNA) 
The meeting between President Vo Van Thuong and Bulgarian Ambassador Marinela Petkova in Hanoi on June 9. (Photo: VNA) 
