HA NOI (VNS)— Viet Nam and Bulgaria will boost their burgeoning friendship with a cultural exchange programme in 2013, which will see each country host culture weeks devoted to the other.

Viet Nam ‘s culture minister Hoang Tuan Anh confirmed the plans following a meeting with Bulgaria's visiting Deputy Prime Minister, Simeon Djankov, on Thursday.

Viet Nam exhibitions in Bulgaria will introduce people to traditional Vietnamese art forms and objects, including unique antique pottery.

Djankov said Bulgaria would continue to welcome Vietnamese art troupes, singers and artists to Bulgaria, adding that the country's museums looked forward to exhibitions celebrating Viet Nam's valuable heritage.

One of Bulgaria's cities would be announced a European Capital of Culture in 2018, Djankov said. He said that he hoped that the Vietnamese culture week would enable Bulgaria to introduce other European nations to the distinctive cultural features of the two countries.-VNS