The conferment was made by the Bulgarian State and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to acknowledge the three individuals’ contributions to promoting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Bulgaria in the fields of economics, culture, education and diplomacy.

Stoyan Petkov, Charge d’Affairs of the Bulgarian embassy in Vietnam granted the Bulgarian State’s Kiril Metodi Order, First Class, to Professor Vu Huong, Vice President of the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association in recognition of his contribution to developing cultural relations between the two countries.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Petkov recalled the traditional friendship between Bulgaria and Vietnam over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He said tens of thousands of Vietnamese have studied and worked in Bulgaria, serving as a bridge between the two countries.

Mr Petkov said that the awards ceremony reflected Bulgaria’s respect for those Vietnamese who have greatly contributed to developing traditional relations between the two countries.

For his part, Professor Vu Huong refreshed fond memories of the Bulgarian landscape and people and pledged to make greater efforts to strengthen cultural exchanges between the two countries.