After concluding a successful visit to Finland, the special aircraft carrying Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and the high-level Vietnamese delegation landed at Sofia International Airport on the evening of October 22 (local time).

Welcoming the delegation at the airport on the Bulgarian side were Atanas Zafirov, Chairman of the Socialist Party and Deputy Prime Minister; Roussi Ivanov, Foreign Affairs Secretary to the President; and Mircho Ivanov, Head of the Presidential Protocol Department.

Representing Vietnam were Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, staff from the Vietnamese Embassy, and members of the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria.

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Reception ceremony for Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse at Sofia International Airport. Photo: VNA

The visit comes at a significant time as the two nations celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. It also marks the first visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam since Bulgaria's political transformation in 1990.

The visit reflects Vietnam’s deep appreciation for traditional partners and long-standing friends who provided meaningful support in both the past struggle for national independence and the current era of national development.

This occasion offers both nations a strategic opportunity to elevate bilateral relations, especially in sectors where Bulgaria has strengths and Vietnam has high demand such as information technology, quantum science, artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, green transition, and biomedical science.

Additionally, it serves as a platform to strengthen a reliable bridge connecting Bulgaria with ASEAN, and vice versa, linking Vietnam with the European Union.

As one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1950, the friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria has been nurtured by generations of leaders and citizens from both sides.

In August 1957, President Ho Chi Minh paid an official friendship visit to Bulgaria, laying the foundation for a flourishing bilateral relationship. Bulgaria has provided Vietnam with both material and spiritual support.

Vietnamese people remember vividly the image of thousands of Bulgarian students and citizens marching in protest against the Vietnam War. Symbolic gifts from Bulgaria, such as the Viet-Bul Hospital in Thai Binh and the Viet-Bul Kindergarten in Hanoi, continue to represent the deep bond between the two peoples.

Bulgaria also trained thousands of Vietnamese professionals at university and postgraduate levels, as well as tens of thousands of skilled workers.

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Photo: TTXVN

In terms of political and diplomatic ties, both countries have maintained regular exchanges of high-level delegations and conducted periodic bilateral cooperation mechanisms, helping to build deep political trust.

Bilateral trade has grown steadily in recent years. In education and training, the two sides signed a cooperation program for the 2025-2028 period and are exploring ways to expand collaboration in Bulgaria’s areas of expertise, such as information technology, cybersecurity, e-government, and public administration.

Defense, security, culture, and labor cooperation are also progressing, with new developments in each field. The two countries are implementing joint scientific research initiatives and have agreed to establish a joint committee on science and technology cooperation, focusing on emerging fields.

Tran Thuong