The talks between Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in Rome on July 26. (Photo: VNA) In an article titled “Italy-Vietnam: President Vo Van Thuong's visitstrengthens bilateral relations”, the Agenzia Nova news agency saidthe State visit to Rome, where he met with hiscounterpart Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, helps further strengthens bilateral relations, 50 years after theestablishment of the diplomatic ties and ten years after the strategicpartnership was set up.
It reported that President SergioMattarella announced the Italian Parliament'sratification of the European Union - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA)and also noted the Southeast Asian country "is considered the linchpin ofthe Indo-Pacific and this opens up a growing collaboration between Europe andVietnam”.
The announcement waswelcomed as "great news" by the Vietnamese guest, for whom thisinstrument will allow "in the future to significantly increase economiccooperation”. The two Presidents mentioned various sectors: from Industry 4.0to the ecological transition, from science to the protection of artisticheritage.
The article also mentioned the meetingbetween the Vietnamese leader and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, who noted further impetus was given to the ongoing collaborationon the economic-commercial, energy, cultural, scientific and security fronts.
The visit byPresident Thuong is significant because it is the first trip to Italy by aVietnamese President in seven years, Agenzia Nova said, adding that economic cooperation has an important place in the bilateral relations.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni (R) welcomes President Vo Van Thuong in Rome on July 26. (Photo: VNA) Bilateral tradetopped 6.2 billion USD in 2022, up 11% year-on-year, as a result of the EU - VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The next target, set last December, is 7 billionUSD. Scientific and technological cooperation is also a source of satisfactionfor both parties. Among the sectors of interest there is also the space sector,with the Italian industry having a tradition of international cooperation withmany countries, including Vietnam, according to Agenzia Nova.
In an article on people-to-peopleexchanges, Italian magazine Marx21 said the friendship and ties between the twocountries are not only the result of the relations developed over the last halfcentury. Instead, they are the continuation of the commitment developed byprevious generations, and which led to forging ties between the people of the two countries.
It reviewed the bilateral relations sincethe early 1930s, noting that the Italian Ambassador to Vietnam recalled how thebonds between the countries were strengthened thanks to exchanges between thetwo nations' people – a very important pillar of diplomatic work.
Italy is an important partner ofVietnam, which is why it was chosen as one of the first destinations abroad by Presidentof Vietnam Vo Van Thuong, Marx21 wrote./.
VNA
