Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thien (R) at the interview with the Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – Vietnam – Italy ties have been at the best since theestablishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in 1973, Vietnamese Ambassador toItaly Cao Chinh Thien told Vietnam News Agency in a recent interview on theoccasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (March 23).
Following the establishment of strategic partnership fiveyears ago, both countries have actively facilitated high-level visits to furtherraise mutual understanding. In 2014 and 2015, Italian Prime Minister MatteoRenzi and President Sergio Mattarella chose Vietnam as the first country inAsia to visit, respectively.
During exchanges, high-ranking Italian officials affirmeddetermination to foster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, consider Vietnama priority to develop ties in Southeast Asia and a destination for Italianfirms between now and 2020.
Vietnam expressed appreciation for ties with Italy viahigh-ranking visits by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in 2014,President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan in 2015 andPresident Tran Dai Quang in 2016.
Apart from all-level visits to share experience inspecialised fields, both sides have worked closely together at multilateral andglobal forums.
Over the past five years, two-way trade has neared 5 billionUSD each year. Within 10 years, from the fourth place, Vietnam has become thelargest ASEAN trade partner of Italy. More and more Italian firms in different productionsectors want to invest in Vietnam.
Cultural, tourism, scientific and education links have beenexpanded. Acclaimed Italian universities periodically visit Vietnam to boostaffiliation with partners and attract students to the country.
In 2017, the number of Italian visitors to Vietnam hit50,000 for the first time, which is forecast to increase in the future.
Apart from cooperation deals signed by the two countries’ministries and agencies, Emilia Romagna region and Binh Duong province signed acooperation agreement on October 16, 2013 in Binh Duong on the occasion of workingtrip by President of the Legislative Assembly of Emilia Romagna Region PalmaCosti. The representative office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry ofEmilia Romagna Region was established in Binh Duong on September 11, 2015.
Italy’s Turin city and Ho Chi Minh City signed a twinningagreement on September 8, 2015 during Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’sCommittee Le Hoang Quan’s visit to Turin.
A tourism cooperation deal between Veneto and the southernprovince of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and another in stone mining between Carrara andYen Bai provinces will be signed in the near future.
About celebrations for the 45th anniversary of bilateraldiplomatic ties in 2018, Thien said Vietnam will continue with existingbilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the fifth meeting of the Vietnam –Italy Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in the fourth quarter in Italy,as well as conduct exchange of delegations at ministry and local levels.
A Week of Vietnamese Goods in Italy is planned for while adelegation of Italian enterprises will explore Ho Chi Minh City market in thethird quarter.
The Vietnamese Cultural Week in Italy is scheduled for thesecond and third quarter of 2018, not to mention photo exhibitions on Vietnamand a seminar to popularise Vietnam’s tourism.
Commenting on the potential of bilateral ties in the nearfuture, Thien stressed the need to further lift bilateral relations and fullytap each one’s potentials.
He suggested launching fields of cooperation in demand suchas market expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises, popularisation ofculture, tourism, science, education and people-to-people exchange.-VNA
Following the establishment of strategic partnership fiveyears ago, both countries have actively facilitated high-level visits to furtherraise mutual understanding. In 2014 and 2015, Italian Prime Minister MatteoRenzi and President Sergio Mattarella chose Vietnam as the first country inAsia to visit, respectively.
During exchanges, high-ranking Italian officials affirmeddetermination to foster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, consider Vietnama priority to develop ties in Southeast Asia and a destination for Italianfirms between now and 2020.
Vietnam expressed appreciation for ties with Italy viahigh-ranking visits by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in 2014,President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan in 2015 andPresident Tran Dai Quang in 2016.
Apart from all-level visits to share experience inspecialised fields, both sides have worked closely together at multilateral andglobal forums.
Over the past five years, two-way trade has neared 5 billionUSD each year. Within 10 years, from the fourth place, Vietnam has become thelargest ASEAN trade partner of Italy. More and more Italian firms in different productionsectors want to invest in Vietnam.
Cultural, tourism, scientific and education links have beenexpanded. Acclaimed Italian universities periodically visit Vietnam to boostaffiliation with partners and attract students to the country.
In 2017, the number of Italian visitors to Vietnam hit50,000 for the first time, which is forecast to increase in the future.
Apart from cooperation deals signed by the two countries’ministries and agencies, Emilia Romagna region and Binh Duong province signed acooperation agreement on October 16, 2013 in Binh Duong on the occasion of workingtrip by President of the Legislative Assembly of Emilia Romagna Region PalmaCosti. The representative office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry ofEmilia Romagna Region was established in Binh Duong on September 11, 2015.
Italy’s Turin city and Ho Chi Minh City signed a twinningagreement on September 8, 2015 during Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’sCommittee Le Hoang Quan’s visit to Turin.
A tourism cooperation deal between Veneto and the southernprovince of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and another in stone mining between Carrara andYen Bai provinces will be signed in the near future.
About celebrations for the 45th anniversary of bilateraldiplomatic ties in 2018, Thien said Vietnam will continue with existingbilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the fifth meeting of the Vietnam –Italy Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in the fourth quarter in Italy,as well as conduct exchange of delegations at ministry and local levels.
A Week of Vietnamese Goods in Italy is planned for while adelegation of Italian enterprises will explore Ho Chi Minh City market in thethird quarter.
The Vietnamese Cultural Week in Italy is scheduled for thesecond and third quarter of 2018, not to mention photo exhibitions on Vietnamand a seminar to popularise Vietnam’s tourism.
Commenting on the potential of bilateral ties in the nearfuture, Thien stressed the need to further lift bilateral relations and fullytap each one’s potentials.
He suggested launching fields of cooperation in demand suchas market expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises, popularisation ofculture, tourism, science, education and people-to-people exchange.-VNA
VNA
