Italy wishes to enhance defence ties with Vietnam: Official
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang suggested continued promotion of joint work in defence industry, training, and United Nations peacekeeping operations, while exploring new fields like war legacy resolution, maritime security, military medicine, military sports and culture, and service arms cooperation.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and Italian Undersecretary of State for Defence Matteo Perego di Cremnago at their meeting in Hanoi on July 2. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Italy is keen to further strengthen defence cooperation with Vietnam to ensure more effective collaboration in the time to come, said Italian Undersecretary of State for Defence Matteo Perego di Cremnago during a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang in Hanoi on July 2.
The Italian official informed Minister Giang about the outcomes of the 5th Vietnam–Italy defence policy dialogue, which he co-chaired with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien earlier the same day. He said the dialogue has contributed significantly to bolstering bilateral defence ties and promoting the countries’ strategic partnership.
Minister Giang stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to the strategic partnership and expressed confidence that, with strong political will from both sides' high-ranking leaders, bilateral relations will continue to thrive.
He commended the outcomes of the 5th dialogue and noted recent positive developments following the signing of the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation between the two countries in 2013, particularly in areas such as delegation exchanges and defence industry collaboration.
Acknowledging the vast potential for further cooperation, Giang proposed that both sides intensify delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits. He also suggested continued promotion of joint work in defence industry, training, and United Nations peacekeeping operations, while exploring new fields like war legacy resolution, maritime security, military medicine, military sports and culture, and service arms cooperation.
He affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence would instruct its relevant agencies to effectively implement cooperation orientations, based on the shared perceptions between Vietnamese and Italian high-ranking leaders and on the outcomes of the dialogue. The work aims to foster substantive and effective defence ties in line with the nations’ strategic partnership framework./.
The two sides committed to expanding cultural exchanges, tourism promotion, science and technology collaboration, education and training, and people-to-people diplomacy. They also voiced support for stronger Vietnam–EU ties within EVFTA and EU Indo-Pacific initiatives.
To elevate bilateral relations to new heights, Vietnam and Italy should strengthen exchanges at all levels, especially high level; identify key and prioritised contents to boost economic, trade, and investment ties; enhance defence and security cooperation; boost cultural, educational and tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges; and develop local-level partnerships.
VNAT Director Nguyen Trung Khanh said that Vietnam identifies Italy as one of the key markets in Europe. Italian tourists are famous for their refined aesthetic taste, deep understanding of culture, art and history and for their passion for discovering original values and sophistication in experiences.
The discussions underscored the deepening partnership between the two nations as they approach the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025 and 14 years of bilateral strategic partnership, a milestone to review achievements and chart a path for a more robust phase of cooperation.
During its six-month term, Vietnam chaired and actively participated in a number of prominent activities, reaffirming the APG’s proactive and constructive engagement in multilateral mechanisms and the United Nations.
This includes agreements signed before July 1, 2025, on behalf of district-level People’s Committees; ministerial departments or directorate-level agencies; provincial-level government bodies; departments under provincial authorities; border commune-level People’s Committees; multiple agencies or organisations acting jointly.
The two leaders welcomed the two negotiating delegations reaching consensus on a Vietnam - US joint statement concerning a fair, reciprocal, and balanced trade agreement framework.
PM Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged the army's proactive role in building an all-people national defence posture closely linked to the people-based security posture while fulfilling its functions as a fighting force, a working force, and a production force.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the promotion of economic, trade, and investment ties between Vietnam and Australia, aiming to raise two-way trade to 20 billion USD.
Party chief To Lam expressed his belief that with unity, determination, and innovation, Hanoi will continue to thrive and deserve its role as the nation’s political and administrative centre, and the heart of the nation.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, the bilateral relationship has continuously developed in a solid, substantive, and effective manner across various fields, including politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, development cooperation, education and training, and people-to-people exchange.
On the East Sea issue, Vietnam’s consistent stance is to persistently strive to solve all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means based on international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, and international and regional commitments such as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and support the prompt conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc has called on all countries to jointly take action to revitalise multilateralism, promote active multilateralism, and work together to restore disruptions in international cooperation on development, trade, and investment.
The diplomat concluded that with the solid foundation and achievements of the past 50 years, and the strong political will of the two governments and the people, Vietnam–Portugal relations are set to expand and deepen, rising to a new height that reflects the true potential, shared values, and mutual aspirations of the two nations
The project to renovate, upgrade, and expand the monument site was a gift from the Vietnamese task force to its Lao counterpart, with a total value of 54 billion VND (2.06 million USD). The Lao side served as project investor, while the construction was undertaken by Company 206 of Military Zone 5 under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence.
Xuan suggested Lombardy establish partnerships with several Vietnamese localities and economic centres, and expressed her confidence that the new direct flight between Hanoi and Milan - the capital of Lombardy - will help strengthen cooperation between the two regions, cultures, and peoples.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man urged the localities in Can Tho to leverage their respective strengths and support one another in building a more diverse, flexible, and sustainable economic structure to drive socio-economic development and improve the material and spiritual well-being of locals.
Vietnam wishes to further promote and enhance cooperation with Egypt in a more substantive and effective manner, serving the interests of the two countries' people, contributing to regional stability and development, and matching the strong bilateral political relationship.
