(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam is resolved to consolidate and strengthen its relations with Bulgaria in all the Party, legislature, government and people-to-people diplomacy channels, as well as connectivity between businesses and localities of the two countries, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue told Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Korneliya Ninova, who is also President of the Parliamentary Group "BSP for Bulgaria".
 Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue says the Communist Party of Vietnam respects ties with other political parties (Photo: VOV). |
At the meeting on Tuesday, part of Hue’s official visit to Bulgaria, the Vietnamese top legislator thanked the Bulgarian NA for approving the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) just before his visit, which he said is an important step for the agreement to take effect.
Mr. Hue expressed his hope that the Bulgarian NA would lobby other Parliaments of the EU to soon approve the agreement.
The leader lauded contributions by Ninova and members of the BSP parliamentary group to the new memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two legislatures signed during his visit.
Vietnam treasures the time-honored friendship with Bulgaria – one of the first 10 countries to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam, he stressed, appreciating Bulgaria’s whole-hearted support to Vietnam in its past struggle for national liberation and reunification.
He said the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is willing to closely cooperate with Bulgarian political parties, contributing to promoting cooperation between the two countries across spheres, consolidating their mutual trust, and enhancing the relations in the State channel intensively, substantively and effectively.
Hue spoke highly of cooperation between the CPV and the BSP, and noted his hope that they will step up the exchange of experience in Party building and education about the traditional friendship and cooperation.
Ninova said she believes that the EVIPA, once put into force, will help the two countries raise competitiveness of their goods and attract more investments.
Vietnam and Bulgaria should further tap their cooperation potential, and foster collaboration in both traditional and potential new areas, she said.
The BSP and its parliamentary group always wish to promote the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam, she affirmed, adding that as a bridge between Asia and Europe, Bulgaria stands ready to work to reinforce the connectivity between the two countries as well as the two regions.
The same day, Hue received Desislava Atanasova, Chairwoman of the GERB-UDF parliamentary group, who expressed her belief that after the Vietnamese leader’s visit, the Vietnam-Bulgaria relationship will see new developments in many spheres.
Hue said on the basis of the MoU between the two legislative bodies, the Vietnamese NA will do its best to promote the Vietnam-Bulgaria relations, expressing his hope that Atanasova and other members of the GERB-UDF parliamentary group will continue their support for the enhancement of the bilateral legislative ties as well as the traditional friendship and multi-faceted between the two countries.
He called on Atanasova and the group to urge the European Parliament (EP) to remove the “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood, which has impacted not only the livelihood of Vietnamese fishermen, but also millions of European consumers.
Atanasova pledged that the parliamentary group will raise more proposals to support Vietnam’s rights and interests, and suggested Vietnam further facilitate the access of Bulgarian products to its market.