Phu Tho Province Signs Friendship Cooperation Agreement with Pernik Province, Bulgaria — Strengthening the Vietnam–Bulgaria Strategic Partnership

On the afternoon of October 24, 2025 (local time), in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on friendship cooperation between Phu Tho Province (Vietnam) and Pernik Province (Bulgaria) was officially signed and presented. The signing ceremony took place within the framework of the official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria by General Secretary To Lam and his spouse.

The event was held under the witness of General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov, and senior leaders from ministries and agencies of both countries. Mr. Truong Quoc Huy, Secretary of the Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee, and Mr. Ludmil Dimitrov Veselinov, Governor of Pernik Province, signed and exchanged the MoU on behalf of the two localities.

Previously, based on the long-standing traditional friendship between the two nations, the former Vinh Phuc Province had signed a memorandum of friendship cooperation with Pernik Province. Since July 1, 2025, when Phu Tho Province was officially established through the merger of the former provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hoa Binh, the new province has sought to expand and deepen its cooperative relations with Pernik in various fields. The newly signed MoU aims to continue implementing previous commitments effectively, while promoting cooperation based on mutual consent and shared prosperity, thereby further nurturing the strong friendship between the two countries.

The signing of this MoU holds significant importance. It not only reflects Phu Tho’s efforts to expand and deepen its foreign relations in line with the policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State, but also contributes to strengthening the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria, as well as between Phu Tho and Pernik in particular.

The MoU on Friendship Cooperation between Phu Tho and Pernik focuses on areas of mutual strength and interest, including economy and investment, trade, education and training, science and technology, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, culture and society, and heritage conservation and promotion.

Prior to the signing, from October 20 to 24, 2025, Mr. Truong Quoc Huy and the Phu Tho working delegation participated in various activities accompanying General Secretary To Lam and the high-level Vietnamese delegation during their official visit to Finland and Bulgaria.

In Helsinki, Finland (October 21–22, 2025), Secretary Truong Quoc Huy attended the official welcome ceremony hosted by President Alexander Stubb and his spouse, joined bilateral talks with the Finnish President, and met with leading Finnish enterprises. He also visited the Nokia headquarters and experience center, met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, the Vietnamese community in Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, attended a concert jointly organized by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Helsinki City Government, visited Aalto University and met with Vietnamese students who are studying in Helsinki, and engaged with the Vietnam–Finland Friendship Association and Finnish experts who have supported development projects in Vietnam.

In Bulgaria (October 23–24, 2025), Secretary Truong Quoc Huy attended official talks with President Rumen Radev, participated in the Vietnam–Bulgaria Business Forum, visited the National Museum of Bulgaria, attended a policy speech at Sofia University, and met with Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov. He also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh Monument at the Vietnamese Embassy compound in Bulgaria, and met with embassy staff, the Vietnamese community in the Balkans, and Bulgarian friends. On October 25, the high-level Vietnamese delegation successfully concluded its visits to Finland and Bulgaria and returned to Hanoi.

Nguyen Dac Thuy