Hanoi (VNA) – Vice President Vo Thi AnhXuan on October 26 met with Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev and held talkswith Vice President Iliana Iotova as part of her official visit to the Europeancountry from October 25-27.

At the meetings, Xuan affirmed that her visit demonstratesthe wish of Vietnamese leaders and people to further enhance the traditional friendshipbetween the two countries in all spheres.

She thanked Bulgaria for its support to Vietnam in the process of negotiations and signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), andsuggested the two countries optimise opportunities presented by the deal tofoster the bilateral trade ties as well as cooperation between ministries andagencies.

The Vietnamese Vice President called on Bulgaria to create optimal conditionsfor a number of Vietnamese goods to increase their presence in the market, andthen penetrate the EU market.

She also asked Bulgarian high-ranking officials to workto urge the two legislatures to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA), and stated that Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for Bulgarianfirms to invest and run business in the Southeast Asian country.

The Vice President used the occasion to appeal toBulgaria to grant more scholarships to Vietnamese students, increase culturaland art exchanges, strengthen tourism collaboration, share experience in the conservationand restoration of cultural heritage, and consider receiving more Vietnamese guestworkers.

She thanked the Bulgarian State and people for theirassistance to the Vietnamese community in the country amid COVID-19 over thepast time.

The Bulgarian leaders appreciated Xuan’s choice ofBulgaria as the first foreign country to visit in her capacity as Vice President of Vietnam.

President Rumen Radev expressed his admiration for the socio-economic achievements Vietnam has recorded, and spoke highly of the progressin the bilateral relations.

Bulgaria stands ready to serve as a gateway forVietnam to forge its relations with the European Union, they pledged.

Vice President Iliana Iotova said Vietnam and Bulgaria havesubstantial cooperation potential, and suggested the two sides beef up collaborationin traditional fields.

Before arriving in Bulgaria, Vice President Xuan visited Frankfurt, Germany, onOctober 25, where she received President of the Hessen State Parliament BorisRhein.

During the reception, she thanked the authorities and people of Hessen State fortheir timely donations of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to Vietnam./.