The excellent political dialogue between Bulgaria and Vietnam has a long tradition and existing relationships of trust are a good basis for deepening and expanding bilateral co-operation in all areas, Vice President Margarita Popova and the Deputy President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Huynh Ngoc Son, agreed today during talks at the Presidency’s offices at 2 Dondoukov Boulevard.

"Vietnam is interested in Bulgarian ports being used for imports of Vietnamese goods into the European Union and Bulgaria can use Vietnam in exporting its goods to Southeast Asia," Huynh Ngoc Son said. He emphasised that even in a severe global economic crisis, Vietnam had maintained the stability of its economy and achieved a track record of economic growth of 5.9 per cent in 2011 and expected growth of 5.2 per cent in 2012.

Vice President Popova praised the efforts and achievements of Vietnam in building a market economy and expressed Bulgaria’s interest in developing the structure and volume of bilateral trade. Bulgarian exports in the chemical, light industry, machinery and agriculture can be increased, she said. The Vice President said that besides Bulgaria’s ports, Vietnam also could use the country’s industrial areas for the development of economic ties with the European Union. “Bulgaria has developed food and pharmaceutical industries and we can offer Vietnam particular partnership in these areas,” Vice President Popova said. She noted that the signing of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Vietnam in June would create more favourable conditions for the development of co-operation between the two countries and expressed hope that the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement would soon be signed.

It was agreed that bilateral co-operation on defence and security has great potential for development. According to the Bulgarian Vice President, both countries can extend such co-operation in the sphere of military training and exchange of personnel, military medicine and military recreation. She noted the possibility of establishing co-operation between Bulgaria and Vietnam in dealing with natural disasters and industrial disasters.

“I am visiting Bulgaria for the first time, but it is not unknown to me, because your country is well-known in Vietnam," Huynh Ngoc Son said. He expressed the gratitude of Vietnam for Bulgaria’s traditionally good attitude to the Vietnamese community in the country. Vice President Popova and Huynh Ngoc Son noted that Vietnamese citizens educated in Bulgaria are a resource for both countries and represent serious potential for the future development of bilateral relations. Many who studied in Bulgaria now occupy senior positions in Vietnam, including the positions of Vice President, President of the National Assembly, deputy ministers and rectors of universities.

Vice President Popova welcomed the policy of good-neighbourliness and frienship that Vietnam conducted in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. She expressed Bulgaria’s support, as a member of the EU, for the implementation of the "Declaration of Conduct in the South China Sea" and the efforts of ASEAN to develop a "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea."