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Bulgaria and Vietnam Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership

Risida Dimitrova, Teodora Tsaneva, Nikolay Trifonov
Bulgaria and Vietnam Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership
Bulgaria and Vietnam Elevate Relations to Strategic Partnership
Exchange Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding between Bulgaria and Vietnam, Sofia, October 23, 2025 (BTA Photo/Hristo Kasabov)
Sofia,  
23.10.2025 21:00
 (BTA)

Bulgaria and Vietnam signed a declaration upgrading bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership during an official visit to Sofia by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam, at the invitation of President Rumen Radev. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and forms part of To Lam’s European tour. The Vietnamese delegation includes more than 40 representatives of government institutions, leading companies from various sectors of the economy, and business organisations.

At a joint news briefing, President Radev said the declaration “crowns decades of joint efforts” to deepen cooperation, describing it as a new stage in a long-standing friendship marked by “mutual respect and support.” He highlighted Bulgaria’s role as an innovation hub in Southeast Europe and called for stronger partnerships in technology, defence, and education. To Lam praised Bulgaria’s scientific and industrial progress and said the agreement marks “a new chapter” in bilateral relations, including concrete roadmaps for cooperation.

Within the framework of the visit a business forum was held, organized by the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and Vietnam’s Foreign Investment Agency, aimed at fostering direct partnerships between companies. Both sides expressed confidence that the new strategic partnership would unlock the full potential of mutual economic, political, and cultural relations.

Both leaders emphasized the importance of expanding trade, investment, and connectivity, including the establishment of direct air links between Hanoi and Sofia. To Lam noted that since August 2025, Bulgarian citizens can travel visa-free to Vietnam for up to 45 days and called on Bulgaria to simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese visitors.

In parallel, BSP leader and Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov met with To Lam to discuss party-to-party cooperation. Both sides underlined the importance of left-wing solidarity and sustainable development models in times of global transformation.

Economic cooperation was a key focus of the visit. Trade between the two countries rose by 15% in the first half of 2025 to nearly USD 145 million, with 2024 totals up 33.5% year-on-year. Economy Minister Petar Dilov and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Hong Dien discussed expanding collaboration in high technology, automotive manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and agriculture. Agriculture Ministers Georgi Tahov and Tran Duc Thang also agreed to renew a bilateral cooperation agreement and promote scientific exchange and market access for agricultural goods.

At a meeting of Agriculture and Food Minister Georgi Tahov and Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang, the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in agriculture, highlighting the sector’s untapped potential. The two countries plan to renew their bilateral agreement on agriculture, livestock breeding, and fisheries, and to expand scientific exchange and market access for agricultural products.

/RD/

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By 01:36 on 26.10.2025 Today`s news

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