Sophia (VNA) – The Bulgarian legislative leader said he wants Bulgaria and Vietnam to enhance their ties in economics, tourism, culture and education in line with both sides’ potentials and desires.

National Assembly Chairman Georgi Pirinski made the statement during the talks held with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong in Sophia on June 23. The talks took place following an official welcome ceremony.

The Bulgarian NA chairman said over recent years, the Bulgaria-Vietnam trade and investment relations have strongly developed but remained low. The two countries can increase cooperation in a number of areas to meet the requirement for development of each country, he added.

The host expressed his impressions on the achievements the Southeast Asian country has made in socio-economic development, improvement of people’s living conditions and regional and international integration.

He spoke highly of the role and important contributions made by Vietnam to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

For his part, Chairman Trong said the Vietnamese people never forget Bulgaria’s assistance to them during the past struggle for national independence and the current national construction and development.

One of Vietnam’s priorities in its foreign policy is to strengthen traditional friendship and comprehensive and long-term cooperation with Bulgaria and other traditional friends, Trong said.

He called for a closer co-ordination between the two national assemblies at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums.

The visiting legislative leader proposed that Bulgaria help Vietnam in developing comprehensive relations with the European Union (EU) and urge the EU to recognise the Vietnamese economy as a market economy.

He also said the two countries should discuss specific measures to facilitate cooperation between their localities, ministries and businesses.

Vietnam is willing to encourage Bulgarian investment, particularly in the areas that the Eastern European country has strengths and the Southeast Asian nation has demand.

Following the talks, the two sides approved a joint statement on cooperation between the two national assemblies.

Under the joint statement, Vietnam and Bulgaria agreed to strengthen the exchange of information and share experiences in parliamentary operations, particularly in legislation and oversight.

The two National Assemblies will conduct the exchange of visits by parliaments and consult each other about international issues of mutual concern, as well as strengthen ties at inter-parliamentary forums such as Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP).

Mutual consultation and cooperation between the two legislative bodies will help boost relations and coordination between the two governments at international organisations.

The same day, the two chairmen held a press briefing to inform the result of their talks.