The General Secretary and his wife will visit Bulgaria.
At the invitation of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, General Secretary To Lam and his wife, along with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will pay an official visit to Bulgaria from October 22-24.
Vietnam and Bulgaria have a long-standing friendship. This is the first time the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam has visited Bulgaria in 50 years, marking a new stage in the relationship between the two countries.
The visit took place at a time when the two countries were celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1950-2025), a relationship of loyalty, trust, and resilience that has been tested and nurtured over decades, from the years of struggle for national independence to the process of national construction and development.
This also marks the fourth high-level exchange in the past three years, demonstrating the strong political relationship and strategic trust between the leaders of both sides.
Furthermore, the visit takes place against the backdrop of both Vietnam and Bulgaria achieving many outstanding accomplishments in socio-economic development and regional and international integration.
In 2024, bilateral trade volume increased by nearly 30% compared to the previous year, reflecting a positive recovery and growth trend.
In the first nine months of this year, exports of many of Vietnam's key products to Bulgaria maintained impressive growth, especially agricultural products, textiles, and light industrial goods.
In the investment sector, the Bulgarian Parliament ratified the Vietnam-European Union Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in September 2023, creating a more favorable legal framework for bilateral cooperation.
Bulgarian businesses are increasingly interested in the Vietnamese market in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, renewable energy, agricultural processing, and logistics.
Conversely, Vietnamese businesses view Bulgaria as a "gateway" to the European Union (EU) market, thanks to its strategic geographical location, developed transportation infrastructure, and significantly improved business environment.
Labor cooperation is emerging as a promising new direction. Due to Bulgaria's labor shortage, an increasing number of Vietnamese workers are going to work in sectors such as construction, mechanics, food processing, and healthcare.
Educational and scientific cooperation continues to be a highlight. Every year, both sides maintain exchanges of students and researchers. Many universities and research institutes have signed agreements on academic and research cooperation.
Cultural cooperation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges continue to be strongly promoted. The Vietnam-Bulgaria and Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Associations regularly coordinate the organization of photo exhibitions, friendship exchanges, film screenings, and events promoting Vietnamese culture and cuisine in Bulgaria, contributing to strengthening the bond and enhancing understanding between the two nations.
The Vietnamese community in Bulgaria plays a bridging role in fostering friendship and actively participates in local social and cultural activities.
