that opened on Sunday at the National News Centreat No 5, Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi.

Visitors view photos that are displayed at “70 years of Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development” exhibition. — VNA/VNS Photos Luong Huong

The “70 years of Vietnam-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 Vietnam.

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

Attending the opening ceremony were representatives of Vietnam’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 Nguyen Duc Loi 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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam 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 Ho Chi 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 Vietnam that followed.

A prominent photo displayed at “70 years of Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship and Development” exhibition, showing President Ho Chi Minh's address to the Bulgarian people in Sofia during his official visit to Bulgaria from August 13-17, 1957.

“Many of the photographs highlight the both moral and material support and assistance extended by the Bulgarian government and people to Vietnam 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 Vietnam, 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.

Vietnam 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 Vietnam (February 1950).

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

“70 years of Vietnam-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 Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations, held by the Bulgarian embassy in Vietnam today at the Hanoi Opera House.  VNS

Bulgaria and Vietnam mark 70 years of close co-operation

Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova sends a message to celebrate the National Day of the Republic of Bulgaria and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.