Bulgaria and Vietnam share long-standing friendly relations, and the approximately 30,000 Vietnamese students who graduated in our country are the natural bridge for their further development. This was the common position of the presidents of the two countries, Rumen Radev and Tho Lam, who held a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. The heads of state noted the great potential for the development of bilateral cooperation in the economy, scientific research and education.

President Tho Lam expressed his gratitude to Bulgaria for our country's consistent assistance to Vietnam, which the Vietnamese people will never forget. The expected visit of President Radev to Vietnam will give a strong signal of the mutual desire to raise bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership, it was stated at the meeting.

Rumen Radev expressed his high appreciation for the rapid development of Vietnam in recent years and highlighted the role of education and science in this success. Bulgaria's geographical position as Vietnam's natural "gateway" to Europe can play an important role in the development of the bilateral partnership, Radev said. Last year, bilateral trade amounted to about USD 200 million, which is far below the capabilities and ambitions of the two countries, it was noted during the conversation.