VN, Bulgaria issue joint communiqué

1.      At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov, the Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Nguyen Tan Dung paid an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria on 4 – 6 June 2015. During the visit, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, called on the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Posen Plevneliev and the Speaker of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva, and attended the Viet Nam – Bulgaria business dialogue.

2.      Bulgarian leaders reaffirmed that Viet Nam is an important partner of Bulgaria in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific and highly valued the impressive achievements of Viet Nam in the social-economic development and international integration. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung praised the important accomplishments of Bulgaria in national aspect and as a full-fledged member of the European Union and reasserted that Viet Nam has always treasured the relations with traditional friends, including Bulgaria.

3.      The two sides appreciated the outcome of the bilateral cooperation over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1950, highlighted the tradition of Bulgaria – Viet Nam friendship and cooperation, and noted with satisfaction the vigorous development of the bilateral dialogue and cooperation in recent years, especially the agreement between the leaders of the two countries to promote the bilateral relations towards strategic partnership.

4.      The two sides underlined the importance of contacts and meetings between the leaders of the two States, Governments and National Assemblies in recent years. Both sides agreed to maintain regular high-level contacts and promote greater exchanges at all levels and in all areas of cooperation between Bulgaria and Viet Nam.

5.      Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reaffirmed the agreement to develop the "New Model of Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam", adopted during the state visit of the President of Bulgaria to Viet Nam (27 – 31 October 2013). The two sides welcomed recent progress towards the development of such a model; emphasized the importance of economic cooperation exchanges between the two countries to determine cooperation areas and projects towards diversifying bilateral trade and investment ties and optimizing the advantages of each country as well as complementary advantages in economic development.

6.      On that note, the two leaders reiterated the role of the Joint Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Governments of Bulgaria and Viet Nam in promoting bilateral cooperation in the economic field and other areas. The two sides agreed that at the next meeting of the Joint Commission expected to take place in the 4^th quarter of 2015, both sides would identify more concrete measures to further develop bilateral economic cooperation in fields of mutual interest as agreed by the leaders of both countries.

7.      The two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their willingness to encourage and facilitate agencies and businesses of both countries to cooperate and to do business in areas where both sides have strengths and demands, including transport infrastructure, irrigation, raw materials for the textile and garment industry, power and renewable energy, energy security and energy efficiency, chemicals and pharmaceutical products, information technology, bio-technology, aquaculture, post-harvest processing, tobacco processing, sustainable tourism, and preservation and restoration of relics.

8.      The two leaders underlined the importance of cooperation outcomes in education, training, culture, tourism, science and technology, especially through the implementation of bilateral cooperation programmes. Both sides believed that these achievements constitute the basis for both countries to enhance further their cooperation in the future. The two sides highlighted the importance of promotion activities to introduce their countries and peoples as well as exchanges between training, research, cultural and tourist agencies of both countries in celebrating the 65^thanniversary of Viet Nam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations.

9.      The two sides confirmed the importance of the Agreement on Scientific Cooperation between the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, signed in 2014, for expanding the spheres of cooperation in the field of science and technology. Both sides noted the start of the first joint projects between institutes affiliated to the two Academies in scientific areas of common interest, including electronics, organic chemistry and phytochemistry, information and communication technologies, nanomaterials. It was agreed that both sides will exert efforts for encouraging direct contacts between the respective scientific institutes.

10.  The two sides highly appreciated the bilateral cooperation in the area of security and welcomed the signing during the visit of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Crime.

11.  Both sides noted the importance of cooperation in the field of defense, as well as the implementation of the MOU on defense cooperation signed in August 2013. The two sides emphasized the need for cooperation in training, defense dialogue at all levels, experience sharing in the fields of expertise as well as participation in the UN Peace-keeping Operations, engineering and military medicine cooperation.

12.  Both sides highly appreciated the steps undertaken towards the implementation of the Memorandum of Legal and Judicial Cooperation between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from 2009 and welcomed the signing of the Cooperation Programme between the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The two sides emphasized the need of exchange of experience and expertise in different fields of the cooperation in both legal and judicial activities.

13.  Bulgaria regards Viet Nam as an important partner in development cooperation and is willing to support the social-economic development of Viet Nam through the relevant instruments and mechanism of development policy.

14.  The two Prime Ministers were delighted to note the strengthening of cooperation between the local authorities of the two countries, as one of the key elements of Bulgaria – Viet Nam relations. In that spirit, the two leaders welcomed the signing in 2014 of the MOU on cooperation between Varna and Da Nang as well as the MOUs on cooperation between Sofia and Ho Chi Minh City, between Ruse and Can Tho in the framework of this visit.

15.  The two sides highlighted the contribution of the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria in preserving and promoting the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The two sides emphasized that they would continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian citizens living in Viet Nam in promoting their role as the bridge connecting both countries and peoples.

16.  The two sides committed to further strengthen cooperation at the United Nations, including mutual support of candidatures, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), EU – ASEAN cooperation mechanisms as well as at other international organizations and forums.

17.  Bulgaria reaffirmed its continued support, as an EU Member State and within the European framework, for the EU and Viet Nam to strengthen relations, the completion of the ratification of the EU – Viet Nam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA). The Bulgarian side also supported the early conclusion of negotiations for the EU – Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) with the understanding that the completion of the EVFTA will further strengthen the relations between Bulgaria and Viet Nam and will help Viet Nam integrate successfully as a market economy into the global economy. As an active member of ASEAN and other regional integration mechanisms, Viet Nam expressed its readiness to act as a bridge to facilitate Bulgaria to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN as well as with the Asia-Pacific region.

18.  The two sides agreed to maintain close cooperation in implementing Danube and Mekong sub-regional cooperation projects under the framework of the ASEM Sustainable Development Dialogue with the participation of central and local institutions. The two sides highly appreciated the outcomes of the 4^th ASEM Sustainable Development Dialogue under the theme "Strengthening concerted actions on water management through the Post-2015 Agenda" held in Ben Tre province in Viet Nam in June 2015 and welcomed Bulgaria to host the 5^th ASEM Sustainable Development Dialogue in 2016.

19.  The two sides underpinned the close bond between the two countries in maintaining world peace and strengthening joint efforts to respond to global challenges and promote common prosperity. Highlighting the central role of the United Nations the two Prime Ministers reiterated the position that all international and regional disputes must be settled by peaceful means in conformity with international law, avoiding unilateral acts that escalate tensions, threaten peace, security and stability.

20.  Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov expressed his belief that the outcomes of the official visit to Bulgaria of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung would contribute to further enhancing friendship and cooperation between Bulgaria and Viet Nam. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the Government and the people of Bulgaria for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to the Vietnamese delegation, and extended an invitation to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov to visit Viet Nam. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov accepted the invitation with pleasure; the time of the visit will be arranged through diplomatic channels./.