An agreement on strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Vietnam will be signed during a visit by President Rosen Plevneliev to the Asian country in the second half of February 2013. This was agreed between the Bulgarian Head of State and Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguy?n T?n D?ng at a meeting in the Laotian capital Vientiane. President Plevneliev's visit to Vietnam will be his first official visit to Asia, and the agreement will increase the level of co-operation between the two countries, which have a mutual friendship. Bulgaria can strengthen the voice of Vietnam in the European Union and Vietnam will streamline Bulgarian efforts to deepen economic co-operation with Southeast Asia, President Plevneliev said during the meeting.

Bulgaria is ready to provide its Black Sea and Danube ports to Vietnam for exports to the European market, President Plevneliev said. He proposed joint Bulgarian-Vietnamese enterprises in the field of food production, and repair and production of special products. Currently, Vietnam is the largest exporter of coffee, rice and seafood and Bulgaria can offer Vietnamese producers the lowest production costs and they can export their products to European markets, the President emphasised. He said that the port of Varna, the largest in Bulgaria, can become a centre for manufacturing and exports by Vietnamese fresh seafood businesses. “If you manufacture in Bulgaria, you will have the lowest tax costs and the highest added value,” President Plevneliev told the Vietnamese Prime Minister. It is envisaged that representatives of Bulgarian business will accompany the President on his visit to Vietnam in February next year.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister saw high potential in Bulgarian enterprises for manufacturing and repairing special products. The two countries will work on an agreement between the two countries on promoting military co-operation. The Prime Minister said that the Vietnamese government would continue to encourage businesses to invest and work in Bulgaria. Areas with significant potential were also seen as including pharmaceuticals, energy and energy efficiency, light industry and agriculture.

Bulgaria supports the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and European Union, it became clear during the meeting. President Plevneliev expressed thanks for Vietnamese support for Irina Bokova getting a second term as secretary-general of UNESCO. Vietnamese support is expected for the Bulgarian candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council in 2020-2021.

President Rosen is on a working visit to Laos to participate in the ninth summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting. The President will speak at the first plenary session of the informal forum, dedicated to economic and financial issues.