VIETNAM - BULGARIA RELATIONS

Important milestone in the history of the diplomatic relations of the two countries: the two countries established diplomatic relations on 08/02/1950.

I. POLITICAL RELATIONS:

- The situation of political relations between the two countries: From 1950 to 1989 the bilateral relations was well-developed. Bulgaria had offered its support and help for Vietnam both spiritual and material for the struggle of the cause of the national liberation and national defense. Since 1990 the regime in Bulgaria has changed, bilateral relations were paused for a short time. Since 1993, the relations has gradually restored.

- The current government in Bulgaria continue to maintain and develop the traditional friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. Since 1996, 01 President, 02 Prime Ministers, 02 National Assembly Chairmans, 03 Ministers of Defense and 01 Foreign Minister of Bulgaria has visited Vietnam. From our side, there are 01 prime ministers, 01 Parliament President and 01 Minister of Justice has visited Bulgaria.

- Delegation to Bulgaria: Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (16-18/9/2000), Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Truong Quang Duoc (4/2004); Head of External Relations of the Central Party Committee Nguyen Van Son (6/2004); President of the People's Council Municipality Phung Huu Phu Hanoi (7/2004); Vice President Truong My Hoa (10/2005); Head of the Central Propaganda Committee Do Nguyen Phuong (2/2006); Vice President of the National Assembly Nguyen Phuc Thanh (1/2007), Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong (6/2008), First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung (7/2010) and Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan (10/2010).

- Delegation to Vietnam: Chairman of the NA Gerdzikov (3/2004); Prime Minister S. Stanishev (11/2006), Vice President A. Ma-rin (4/2007), Defense Minister Boliznakov (10/2007), Chairman of the Committee on International Relations S. Passy (3/2008), State Administration Minister N. Vassilev (4/2008), Labour Minister Maslarova (4/2008), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister I. Kalfin (11/2008), President G. Parvanov (29-31/1/2009).

- The coordination in the regional and international cooperation: the two sides has good coorperation in the international organizations.

II. ECONOMIC COOPERATION RELATIONS:

1. Trade: On the March of 2001, the two sides have signed a new agreement on economic and trade, both mutually recognised themselves the most-favored nation. Trade situation between the two countries: in 05 years, the two-way trade turnover reached nearly $ 100 million on average per year. Vietnam exports to Bulgaria the traditional commodities: coal, coffee, rubber, seafood, food, bamboo, pepper, cashew nuts, textiles, footwear. On 2009, Vietnam exported mainly textiles, coffee, coal, frozen seafood. Vietnam's import from Bulgaria the traditional goods: chemicals, pharmaceuticals, wine, machinery engineering, shipbuilding equipment. In 2009, Vietnam imported mostly wheat, pharmaceuticals and feed.

- Bilateral Mechanism: At 21^st Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on economic - trade and scientific - technical cooperation between the two countries held in Hanoi in 11/2008. The 22^nd Session is expected to be held in Bulgaria from the quarter II/2011.

- The trade exchange between the two countries in the recent 5 years: two-way turnover increased rapidly in recent years, particularly in 2008 nearly doubled, in particular:

2. Investment:

Investment situation of Bulgaria toVietnam: Till May 2010 Bulgaria has 8 direct investment projects in force in Vietnam with total registered capital 31,42,9 million dollars. 6 projects in which 100% of registered capital of Bulgaria is 20.96 million (63% of registered capital) and two joint venture projects with registered capital of 10.46 million (37% capital registered) in the provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Lam Dong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. Bulgaria is ranked 54 out of 91 countries and territories having investment projects in Vietnam.

III. DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION: nothing

IV. EDUCATION-TRAINING AND CULTURE:

1. Education and training relations between two countries: Before 1990, Bulgaria has helped Vietnam to train more than 3600 scientific researchers and specialists at all levels and about 3 thousand skilled workers. Bulgaria has the potentail on training in the spheres such as construction industry, architecture, information technology, biotechnology, chemical, agriculture, tourism and so on.   

Implementation of the agreement during a visit to Bulgaria's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai (9/2000), on February 2001 Education Minister of Bulgaria visited Vietnam, signed an agreement to resume cooperation in education and the program of cooperation in period of 2001-2003, in which both sides agreed annual scholarship training 03 students, 02 doctoral and 01 post-graduate trainees. From 2001 to present, 44 Vietnamese overseas students are studying in Bulgaria under the cooperation program between the two countries (16 overseas students, 02 graduate students by the Ministry of Education and Training, 04 post-graduate trainees from Francophonie and 22 military students  from the Ministry of Defense). The two sides have signed a new cooperation program in the field of education - training period 2007 - 2009 (11/2007). The two sides are expected to sign a new cooperation program on education for period 2010 - 2014, but shares only three scholarships for all training level. As an EU member, Bulgaria will be obliged to spend 40 million euros for developing countries, including Vietnam to implement the bilateral cooperation projects.

2. Cultural relations of two countries: Before 1990, the two countries regularly exchanged delegations of folklore music. In 2005, a musical ensemble of Vietnam Thang Long has participated in the festival of folklore music in Bulgaria and performances at Varna. From 2007 till now, our Embassy in Bulgaria with the coordination was launched 03 books: Ho Chi Minh in the country rose (in Vietnamese and Bulgarian), Vietnam – the Country & People (Bulgaria), Vietnam – the Dragon and Fairy (Bulgarian and English). On the November 2010, Vietnamese Friendship Association with Bulgaria has jointly organized “The gratitude to the country of roses" and has invited a nearly 30 teachers of Bulgaria to attend in it.

V. OTHER AREAS:

1. Security - Defence: Each year, the two delegations exchange the delegation of the officers and exchange of visits betweeb the two Ministry of Defense.

2. Labor: The two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in labor-exporting (4/2008) from July 2008 till the end of  2009, nearly 200 labours have worked in Bulgaria. But from the beginning of 2009 due to the impact of the economic crisis, most of them (168 people) came back home and now nearly 20 people still are there.

3. Local cooperation: Promoting cooperation between Hanoi - Sofia, Ho Chi Minh city - Plovdiv; Quang Ninh – Bourgas; Hai Phong – Varna; Da Lat -Kazanlak; Thái Bình – Pazardic.

4. Science and technology: The two sides have the SubCommittee on the Science and Technology which already held 3 times.

VI. ABOUT THE VIETNAMESE COMMUNITY IN BULGARIA

We have about 1040 Vietnamese living in Bulgaria. The Vietnamese community has the advantage of understanding deeply the host country because a significant part of the community once were ex-student, ex-workers in Bulgaria, having the knowledge and friendships with the local administration. These are special and favorable conditions for the construction and development of the community, contributing to strengthen the bilateral relations.

VII. THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES HAVING SIGNED

From 1950 to now, the two sides signed lots of the cooperation agreements and documents between the two countries which created a new legal basis for the relations. From 2000 till now, the two sides have signed 16 documents (with 05 document which are not in force at the April 2006 due to that Bulgaria prepares to join in the EU), notably those Agreement on the cooperation of the economy, investment, education, tourism, avoidance of double taxation, debt settlement, consular.