During General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam’s official visit to Bulgaria, Phu Tho and Pernik provinces signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friendship and Cooperation witnessed by senior leaders of both countries. The agreement represents a new step in local cooperation and helps strengthen the Vietnam-Bulgaria Strategic Partnership.
Party General Secretary To Lam and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov witness the signing of an MoU of friendship and cooperation between Phu Tho province (Vietnam) and Pernik province (Bulgaria)
Expanding local cooperation
From October 22 to 24, 2025, Party General Secretary To Lam and his spouse, along with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, made an official visit to the Republic of Bulgaria at the invitation of President Rumen Radev. During the visit, a signing ceremony for the MoU on Friendship and Cooperation between Phu Tho and Pernik took place in the presence of Party General Secretary To Lam, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, and leaders from the ministries and agencies of both countries.
The MoU was signed by Secretary of the Phu Tho Provincial Party Committee Truong Quoc Huy and Pernik Governor Ludmil Dimitrov Veselinov, representing the two localities. The agreement continues the long-standing tradition of friendship built over decades between the two countries and their local partners.
Previously, on September 25, 2023, the former Vinh Phuc province signed a similar MoU with Pernik. After Phu Tho province was re-established on July 1, 2025, through the merger of the former Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, and Hoa Binh provinces, the new province inherited and expanded this cooperative relationship. With a broader development base, Phu Tho seeks to deepen its partnership with Pernik through practical and sustainable initiatives.
The event took place as Vietnam and Bulgaria celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and officially upgraded their ties to a Strategic Partnership. In their joint statement, both countries identified local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges as key pillars. The Phu Tho-Pernik memorandum therefore carries strategic significance, promoting bilateral cooperation and strengthening the two nations’ strategic partnership.
Creating opportunities in investment, trade, education, and tech transfer
Under the MoU, Phu Tho and Pernik agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and potential, including economic development and investment, trade, education and training, science and technology, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, culture and society, and cultural heritage preservation. These sectors are expected to generate added value, attract businesses, and connect markets between Vietnam and Bulgaria.
Before the signing ceremony, Phu Tho Party Secretary Truong Quoc Huy met with Governor Ludmil Dimitrov Veselinov at the Bulgarian Government Office. The two sides exchanged information on their socio-economic situations, shared experiences in development and governance, and discussed plans for implementing future cooperation. Truong Quoc Huy invited Pernik’s leaders to visit Phu Tho and pledged to send a delegation to Pernik to carry out the agreed programs. Governor Veselinov welcomed the proposal and expressed strong support for concrete cooperation between the two provinces.
In trade and investment, the MoU opens opportunities for Phu Tho enterprises to access the Bulgarian market, a gateway to the European Union, while enabling Pernik to reach the dynamic ASEAN market. With its industrial foundation inherited from former Vinh Phuc, agricultural strengths from former Hoa Binh, and distinctive cultural and tourism heritage from Phu Tho, the province is well positioned to attract foreign investment and develop high-tech industries, food processing, and cultural-historical tourism.
In education and science, the cooperation focuses on student exchange, vocational training, and technology transfer, particularly in digital transformation, scientific research, and institutional collaboration. Bulgaria’s strengths in engineering, computer science, and EU-standard vocational education complement Phu Tho’s young workforce and growing demand for advanced technologies.
Cultural and social cooperation, including heritage preservation, is also a highlight of the partnership. Phu Tho is home to several UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritages, making it an ideal partner for cultural exchange and heritage conservation initiatives.
Phu Tho’s growing presence in international diplomacy
In addition to attending the signing ceremony in Bulgaria, the Phu Tho delegation led by Provincial Party Secretary Truong Quoc Huy also joined Party General Secretary To Lam in official activities in Finland and Bulgaria.
In Finland, on October 21-22, Provincial Party Secretary Truong Quoc Huy attended the official welcome ceremony hosted by President Alexander Stubb, took part in high-level meetings, met with leading Finnish companies, visited Nokia’s technology center, and engaged with the Vietnamese community and friendship organizations in Northern Europe. The visit provided Phu Tho with valuable insights into Northern Europe’s advanced models of innovation, digital transformation, and education.
In Bulgaria, from October 23 to 24, the Phu Tho delegation participated in major diplomatic activities, including meetings with the Bulgarian President, the Vietnam-Bulgaria Business Forum, a visit to the National Museum of Bulgaria, and the inauguration ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh Monument at the Vietnamese Embassy in Sofia. These activities helped promote the image of Vietnam and showcase Phu Tho’s potential for international cooperation.
By Huong Hau, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
