The event was jointly held by the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association (VBFA) under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Embassy of Bulgaria in Vietnam.
The ceremony marked the attendance of Former NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, former Minister of Fisheries Nguyen Quang Ngoc, President of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong; Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, President of Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong.
The event also welcomed the attendance of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Marinela Petkova, representatives of the embassies and diplomatic missions of countries in Vietnam.
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| Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) President Nguyen Phuong Nga gives a remark at the ceremony. |
Speaking at the event, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga said that 70 years ago, on February 8, 1950, Bulgaria was one of the first ten countries in the world to recognize and formally establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
It was an event of great significance in Vietnam's international relations and an extremely important political victory, demonstrating the precious support of the peace-loving people around the world for the Vietnamese people's just cause for peace, independence, and freedom. President Ho Chi Minh's official friendship visit to Bulgaria in August 1957 left a deep impression and set an important milestone in the history of the Vietnam-Bulgaria relationship.
During the most difficult and arduous years when Vietnam struggled for national independence and national construction, the country always received valuable support both physically and mentally from the Bulgarian government and people. Many economic, educational, and medical works in Vietnam were built with the help of material, technology, and the selfless labor of Bulgarian experts.
The bilateral relations have been strengthened across fields from politics – diplomacy, economics-trade, defense-security, science-technology, education-training, to culture, sports and tourism, she said.
Bulgaria is among European Union (EU) countries leading in ratifying the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA), as well as promoting the signing and ratification of the EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), she said.
She underlined the significance of strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations and their mutual support and coordination at multilateral forums and in solving global issues, especially in the context of complicated developments in the region and the world.
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| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Marinela Petkova speaks at the event. Photo by T.Viet/VUFO. |
Bulgaria and Vietnam boast the great potential to develop an advanced, comprehensive, and multilateral cooperation relationship, she stressed.
The two countries need an agenda that emphasizes the promotion of people-to-people and cultural exchange, and education cooperation, which are key areas to further enhance the bilateral ties, she said.
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| Art program to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations (1950-2020). |
On the occasion, a photo exhibition marking the 70th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations (February 8) is also launched from November 16 to November 22.
Under the theme of “Vietnam-Bulgaria: 70 years of friendship and development”, the exhibition is co-held by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), and the Bulgarian Embassy in Vietnam.
The event features 70 outstanding color and black-and-white photos taken by VNA and BTA reporters, which reflect the two countries’ long-standing friendship and cooperation in various fields over the past 70 years.
Notably, photos of President Ho Chi Minh’s official visit to Bulgaria in August 1957 and the visit of Bulgarian senior leaders to Vietnam in 1959 are also on display.
The exhibits also highlight Bulgaria’s material and spiritual support for Vietnam throughout history and the development of their ties in recent years.
VNF
