President Georgi Parvanov and his wife’s visit was made at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Speaking at the welcome ceremony for the Bulgarian President and his wife at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Saturday, President Triet said Mr Parvanov’s official visit to Vietnam is of great significance, creating a turning point in the 60-year friendship and traditional cooperation between two countries.

The Bulgarian President expressed his pleasure at his first visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the lunar New Year Festival.

Both sides then held talks at the Presidential Palace, during which they emphasised the potential for Vietnam and Bulgaria to expand cooperation in various fields based on their close relationship over the past 60 years.

The two leaders agreed that Vietnam and Bulgaria have achieved remarkable economic gains and rapidly increased two-way trade turnover. They discussed measures to boost their multi-faceted cooperation, especially in the fields in which Bulgaria has strength, such as the environment, energy, agriculture, fruit processing, pharmaceuticals, transport, education, culture, tourism and labour exports.

They also exchanged views on matters of mutual concern and affirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation at regional and international forums.

President Triet expressed his hope that the Bulgarian government and people would continue to create fabourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria to stabilise their lives and contribute to their homeland.

Mr Triet and the Bulgarian President witnessed the signing of cooperative documents, including an agreement on legal and judicial cooperation and an agreement on cultural cooperation in the next four years (2009-2012).

Speaking to local and international media after the talks, the leaders of the two countries said there is great potential for promoting cooperation in all fields, especially economics, thanks to the good political relations between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

Mr Parvanov said his country will cooperate with Vietnam in the fields of pharmaceutical and tobacco manufacturing, cooking processing, and information technology. He added that the two countries can establish joint ventures to boost bilateral cooperation and stressed that tourism and tertiary training are promising fields with great potential for both sides.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet affirmed that Vietnam will create favourable conditions for Bulgarian enterprises to invest in the country, which will serve as a foundation for their products to enter the ASEAN market. He also expressed hope that Bulgaria will help Vietnamese goods penetrate the European market.

President Parvanov pledged to support Vietnam in signing a partnership agreement with EU countries.

President Triet accepted the invitation by his Bulgarian counterpart to pay an official visit to Bulgaria in 2010 to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

At noon today, President Triet and his wife held a banquet at the Government Guest House to welcome President Parvanov and his wife along with other Bulgarian guests.

**

Also on Saturday, President Parvanov held talks with General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Bulgarian President briefed the National Assembly chief on the successful results of his meeting with President Triet.

The two sides agreed on many bilateral and multilateral issues and pledged to promote practical, comprehensive cooperation.

President Parvalov expressed his belief that Vietnam will overcome difficulties arising from the current global financial meltdown.

Regarding parliamentarian cooperation, Chairman Trong affirmed the Vietnam National Assembly will continue to work with its Bulgarian counterpart to implement an agreement signed by the leaders of the two parliaments in 2008. Accordingly, the two sides will exchange visits to share legislative experience.

Bulgarian President Parvalov and his wife left Hanoi late in the afternoon.

The two countries issued a joint communiqué, which affirms their determination to strengthen their ties.

During his stay in Vietnam, President Parvalov and his entourage laid wreaths at the Monument to Vietnamese Heroes and Martyrs and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and visited Ha Long Bay and the Temple of Literature (Van Mieu).

On January 30, the Bulgarian leader paid a visit to the northern province of Quang Ninh and voted for Ha Long Bay as one of the world’s seven natural wonders.

VietNamNet/VOV