Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev have agreed to foster economic, trade and investment ties towards a strategic partnership level during their meeting in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria on late June 5 (local time).

In their views, priority should also be given to areas of national defence-security, science-technology, education-training, culture, tourism and cooperation between localities.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung informed the host of the outcomes of his talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Speaker of the National Assembly Tsetska Tschaeva and the Vietnam – Bulgaria business dialogue.

He asked for continued effective collaboration in fields of shared interest, especially the new economic cooperation model initiated by Bulgarian President.

President Plevneliev welcomed the visit which came in conjunction with the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

He stated that Bulgaria supports the strengthening of ties between Vietnam and the European Union (EU), the upcoming signing of the Vietnam–EU free trade agreement and Vietnam’s position on the East Sea issue.

A day earlier, the Vietnamese leader received Bulgarian NA Vice President and Chairman of the Bulgaria-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Association Yavor Iliev Haytov.

The Vietnamese leader noted that as Vietnam and Bulgaria are developing a new cooperation model, the association needs to continue acting as a bridge connecting the two nations.

Haytov, in return, vowed to do his best for the long-standing friendly coordination between the two countries and peoples.-VNA