Bulgarian President Rumen Radev visits Hai Phong City
VOV.VN - Bulgarian President Rumen Radev visited the northern port city of Hai Phong on November 26, continuing his working trip to Vietnam at the invitation of President Luong Cuong.
Receiving the Bulgarian leader, Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee Le Tien Chau introduced the city’s potential, advantages, and achievements, saying Hai Phong is one of the five centrally governed cities and holds a strategic economic position as the economic engine of northern Vietnam.
The city has a complete transportation infrastructure system connecting road, rail, inland waterway, sea, and air services. It boasts the largest seaport system in the northern region, capable of handling ships of over 145,000 DWT and providing direct connections to major ports in Europe and America.
In recent years, Hai Phong has consistently been among the fastest growing cities in Vietnam, with its economy growing at double-digit rates for nine consecutive years which is 1.5 to 2 times higher than the national average. The city aims to maintain a “decade of double-digit growth” in 2024. It is among the top localities for FDI attraction, luring about US$3.6 billion per year.
Hai Phong is also known for its rich cultural and historical traditions. Its distinctive cuisine and famous tourist destinations attract both domestic and international visitors. In 2023, the UNESCO World Heritage Organization recognized Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba Archipelago in Hai Phong city and nearby Quang Ninh province as a World Natural Heritage site.
Chau then talked about the possibility of increasing friendship and cooperation between Hai Phong and Bulgaria, noting meaningful activities of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association of Hai Phong over the years, helping to strengthen ties between the people of the two sides.
However, two-way trade between the city and Bulgaria remains modest, at nearly US$10 million last year. Chau expressed his belief that cooperation between the two sides will be further enhanced following Radev’s visit, with a focus on people-to-people exchanges, trade and investment promotion, and business connections.
Radev for his part expressed his admiration for the city’s achievements in socio-economic development. He expressed a desire to share experiences and explore opportunities for cooperation in industry, port development, investment attraction, education and training.
The same day, President Radev and his entourage visited Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba Island in Cat Hai District, and the VinFast automobile factory, one of the most advanced in Southeast Asia, located in the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone.
