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| Bulgarian President Rumen Radev (standing) speaks at the working session with Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee Le Tien Chau on November 26. (Photo: VNA) |
Hai Phong, one of the five centrally-run cities, holds a strategically important economic position and serves as the economic locomotive of the northern region of Vietnam. It boasts the largest seaport system in the North, capable of accommodating ships with a capacity of over 145,000 tonnes and directly connecting to major ports in Europe and America.
In recent years, Hai Phong has consistently ranked among the localities with the highest growth rates in the country. Its GDP has grown consecutively for nine years at double-digit levels, 1.5 to 2 times higher than the national average. The city is striving to realise its goal of "decade of double-digit growth" in 2024.
Hai Phong has also recorded impressive results in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), totaling about 3.6 billion USD per year, making it among the top in the country in terms of FDI attraction.
Chau highlighted the friendship cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between Hai Phong and Bulgaria, saying that over the past 20 years, the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association organised many activities, becoming a bridge connecting the people of Hai Phong and Bulgaria, and making a positive contribution to promoting the traditional relationship between the two countries.
In terms of economic cooperation, in 2023, Hai Phong's export turnover to Bulgaria reached 0.38 million USD, while Bulgaria's import value to Hai Phong hit 9.26 million USD.
Chau said he believed that after President Radev’s trip, the two sides will cooperate closely to further promote delegation exchanges at all levels, and people-to-people exchange activities; as well as strengthen cooperation in boosting investment promotion activities and trade and logistics cooperation.
They will also support the connection of associations and businesses to explore investment and business cooperation opportunities, thus contributing to deepening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in general, and between Bulgaria and Hai Phong in particular, he added.
President Radev expressed his impression of Hai Phong’s socio-economic development achievements. He hoped to share experiences an solutions; and suggested cooperation on industrial development, seaport operation, investment attraction, education – training, with the city.
The Bulgarian leader showed his hope that through his visit, the traditional, trustworthy, and good relationship between the two countries will continue to develop, and achieve greater success in all areas, including politics, trade and investment, education - training, science -technology, culture, and tourism.
On the same day, President Radev and his entourage visited Lan Ha Bay, and a VinFast automobile factory in Dinh Vu Industrial Park in Cat Hai district./.