Visitors view photos that are displayed at “70 years of Việt Nam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development” exhibition. — VNA/VNS Photo Lương Hương

HÀ NỘI — Unique black-and-white and colour photos reflecting the traditional friendship and diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Bulgaria over the past 70 years are being displayed at an exhibition that opened yesterday at the National News Centre at No 5, Lý Thường Kiệt Street, Hà Nội.

The “70 years of Việt Nam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development” exhibition is jointly held by Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Việt Nam.

It consists of 70 rare photos, symbolising the 70th anniversary of Việt Nam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations.

Attending the opening ceremony were representatives of Việt Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Central Propaganda and Training Commission; Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations; Vietnam - Bulgaria Friendship Association, Vietnam Journalists Association; the ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic delegations from different countries and related organisations.

Addressing the event, VNA General Director Nguyễn Đức Lợi emphasised that the cooperation between the VNA and BTA has been and will continue to strengthen the understanding between the people of the two countries, consolidating the traditional friendship and cooperation between Việt Nam and Bulgaria in all fields.

The general director also asserted his belief that VNA and BTA, besides reflecting the cooperation activities in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy and society, would also continue to bridge Vietnamese and Bulgarian businesses as well as contribute to people-to-people exchange activities of the two nations.

The images of the country and people of Việt Nam and Bulgaria as well as the potential and strengths of each country will be constantly spread on the information channels of both agencies, he stressed.

According to him, the photos on display have been selected from the archives of both VNA and BTA.

Prominent among them are images of President Hồ Chí Minh during his official friendship visit to Bulgaria in August 1957, which marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations, as well as pictures of Bulgarian senior leaders during their official visits to Việt Nam that followed.

A prominent photo displayed at “70 years of Việt Nam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development” exhibition, showing President Hồ Chí Minh's address to the Bulgarian people in Sofia during his official visit to Bulgaria from August 13-17, 1957. — VNA/VNS Photo Lương Hương

“Many of the photographs highlight the both moral and material support and assistance extended by the Bulgarian government and people to Việt Nam during the latter’s cause for national liberation, construction and defence in the 1970s and 1980s.

“The development of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in recent years are also manifested at the exhibition,” he stressed.

Speaking at the exhibition, the Bulgarian ambassador to Việt Nam, Manirela Petkova, stressed that the event introduces an insight into the historical course of the bilateral relationship, taking viewers on a visual journey of relationships across multiple fields, as well as feel the dynamics and variety of cooperation between the two nations.

According to her, the aim of the exhibition is to share a story about the vital role of diplomacy and dialogue in establishing, influencing and strengthening peaceful relations between nations.

On this occasion, the ambassador also highly appreciated the efforts of the Vietnamese government and people in successfully controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, which enabled the exhibition to be realised.

Both the ambassador and the general director of VNA expressed their condolences for the recent death of the general director of BTA, Maxin Minchev, on November 15.

Việt Nam and Bulgaria enjoy long-lasting partnership and cooperation. Bulgaria was among the first ten countries in the world to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with Việt Nam (February 1950).

Over the years, the exchange and dialogue between the countries have been continuously strengthened and developed to new heights.

“70 years of Việt Nam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development” exhibition will run until November 22.

Highlighted photos of the exhibition will be displayed at the ceremony celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of  Việt Nam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations, held by the Bulgarian embassy in Việt Nam today at the Hà NộiOpera House. — VNS