(VOVworld) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev have agreed on further cooperation in all areas towards a strategic partnership. During talks in Sofia on Friday, the Bulgarian President supported strengthening relations between Vietnam and the EU and early signing of their free trade agreement. The President also voiced his support for Vietnam’s view regarding the East Sea issue.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev

Speaking in a business forum, Prime Minister Dung said Vietnam and Bulgaria were time honored partners and Bulgaria now has 10 investment projects in Vietnam with 31 million dollars of capital: “Following successful talks with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, we agreed to facilitate practical bilateral business cooperation for mutual benefit. Investment and trade cooperation will help boost bilateral friendship between the two countries.”

The Prime Minister called for more Bulgarian investment in agriculture, healthcare, and clean energy.

On Saturday, The Prime Minister left Sofia for Hanoi, concluding his official visit to Bulgaria. Earlier, he visited the Vietnamese embassy and met Vietnamese community representatives in Bulgaria. He received Chairman of the Socialist Party National Council Mikhail Mikov the same day.