They included a governmental-level agreement to implement the minutes of the 21^st session of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Inter-governmental Committee on economics, trade and science-technology, an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, and a cooperation document between the two friendship associations.

The signing took place in Sofia on July 7 shortly after talks between Deputy Prime Minister Simeon Dyankov and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Sinh Hung, who is visiting the European nation.

Mr Hung said Vietnam cushioned the impact of the global financial and economic crisis and achieved a GDP growth rate of 5.32 percent in 2009. It planned to raise its GDP to 6.5-7 percent this year and continue to be an attractive destination for foreign investors.

Vietnam is among the global leading exporters of farm products, such as rice, rubber and coffee, and its services, tourism, post and telecommunications, education, health care and infrastructure, particularly transport, need more investment, said Mr Hung.

He praised Bulgaria’s increasing position in the European Union (EU) and expressed his hope that Bulgaria would help Vietnam to be early recognised by the EU as a market economy.

Deputy PM Dyankov said both Bulgaria and Vietnam still have potential for cooperation in various areas. He said he will instruct relevant Bulgarian agencies to send businesses to Vietnam to carry out cooperation programmes.

Mr Hung invited Mr Dyankov to visit Vietnam and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.