Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyễn Thị Minh Nguyệt speaks at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo Việt Thắng

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyễn Thị Minh Nguyệt said Bulgaria holds a special place in Việt Nam’s development journey, having been among the first nations to establish diplomatic ties in 1950 and standing by the country during its challenging times.

Thousands of Vietnamese studied and worked in Bulgaria, helping build strong bonds between the people of the two countries, she added.

Speaking at a recent ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of Việt Nam’s National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2026), attended by more than 350 delegates, the ambassador highlighted the establishment of the Việt Nam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership during General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee Tô Lâm’s official visit to Bulgaria in October last year as opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Reviewing the country’s 81-year journey of national construction and development, Nguyệt noted that the Vietnamese economy expanded 8.02 per cent last year, with gross domestic product (GDP) reaching approximately US$514 billion and total goods trade exceeding $930 billion.

Việt Nam is working towards becoming a developed and prosperous country by the middle of the 21st century, with science and technology, innovation and high-quality human resources serving as key drivers of development.

“For more than seven decades, Việt Nam and Bulgaria have built trust. Today, it is our responsibility to turn that trust into concrete results,” the ambassador said.

She called for stronger cooperation between the parliaments and agencies of the two countries, greater connectivity among businesses, universities, research institutes and localities, and expanded exchanges among young people. These efforts, she said, would help translate the potential of the Strategic Partnership into practical programmes, projects and benefits for people and businesses.

Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Christo Polendakov affirmed that Bulgaria attaches great importance to its traditional friendship with Việt Nam, which has lasted for more than 75 years.

He spoke highly of Việt Nam’s robust development, describing it as a dynamic economy and an important development centre in Southeast Asia. He said the two countries have substantial room to expand cooperation in the digital and green economies.

Polendakov noted that the elevation of Việt Nam-Bulgaria relations to a Strategic Partnership last year had brought bilateral ties to “the highest level of Bulgaria’s relations with any country in Asia” and made it one of the few strategic partnerships Bulgaria has established with other countries.

He affirmed that Bulgaria will continue promoting EU-Việt Nam and EU-ASEAN relations and work with Việt Nam to further develop their Strategic Partnership.

Ambassador Nguyệt reiterated Việt Nam pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, and multilateralisation and diversification of external ties, while respecting international law, upholding multilateralism, and resolving differences and disputes via peaceful measures.

She expressed gratitude to Bulgarian agencies, partners and friends, diplomatic colleagues and the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria for their friendship, cooperation and valuable support for Việt Nam.

She affirmed that the trust and friendship nurtured by previous generations are being further enriched with new areas of cooperation under the Strategic Partnership, towards more practical outcomes for the peoples of both countries.

As part of activities marking Việt Nam’s 81st National Day, the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria also organised a friendly football match drawing the participation of numerous community members, young people and students, helping strengthen community solidarity and express their affection towards the homeland. — VNA/VNS