State leader meets Italian Prime Minister, top legislator

The Vietnamese State leader asserted that Viet Nam wishes to step up multifaceted collaboration with Italy, particularly in politics-diplomacy, economy, education-training, culture-arts, and other potential areas.

The nation stands ready to cooperate with Italy to boost partnerships in such fields as green transition, digital economy, and sustainable and inclusive prosperity, he noted.

Calling on Italy to strongly support the Viet Nam-EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation, he noted Viet Nam is willing to help Italy foster ties with ASEAN.

PM Meloni, for her part, affirmed Italy's respect for Viet Nam's stature and role in the Indo-Pacific region.

There remains much room for the two countries to expand cooperation, and Italy is determined to join Viet Nam in promoting their strategic partnership to together surmount current challenges of the world and the regions, she stated.

The Italian Parliament's ratification of the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) during the Vietnamese leader's visit demonstrates the country's attention to the enhancement of bilateral ties, she stressed.

She also affirmed Italy's readiness to act as a bridge for the G7-ASEAN relations and the Viet Nam-EU ties.

Meloni voiced her support for fostering the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) enforcement to raise trade between the two countries to US$7 billion.

Italy pledged to assist Viet Nam in terms of finance, technology, and manpower training to cope with climate change, she highlighted.

The European nation also welcomed Viet Nam's proposal on the establishment of a trilateral framework on agriculture among Viet Nam, Italy and a third country to help deal with the global food security issue, she added.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to increase mutual visits between the countries' ministries, sectors, and localities; and continue effectively implementing bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation.

Both leaders agreed to keep fruitfully carrying out the EVFTA and consider this as an important driver for their countries' economic links.

The two sides also concurred in pushing ahead with cooperation in other fields like security-defense, education-training, science-technology, and cultural heritage preservation, which they viewed as potential areas that need to be tapped into to substantively and effectively intensify the strategic partnership.

Touching upon some regional and international issues of common concern, both host and guest agreed to strengthen coordination at international organizations and forums like the United Nations and the G7-ASEAN cooperation framework, and work closely in realizing the commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Following the meeting, the Vietnamese President and the Italian PM witnessed the signing of an agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal affairs, and a cultural cooperation program for 2023 - 2026 between the two countries.

At the meeting with the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Vo affirmed Viet Nam considers Italy as its important partner in Europe and is willing to work together with Italy to take the bilateral strategic partnership to a new height.

In order to consolidate trust and create a favorable foundation for the bilateral relationship, the guest suggested the two sides increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high level, via the State, Government and Parliament channels, step up economic and trade cooperation, expand cultural-educational ties, and promote local cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Fontana agreed with the Vietnamese leader's proposal of intensifying collaboration between the two legislative bodies, including stepping up the exchange of delegations, and supporting Viet Nam's role as a bridge to promote relations between the Italian Parliament and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Fontana affirmed that Italy will send a delegation of young parliamentarians to attend the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians hosted by Viet Nam in September. He expressed his hope for a closer cooperation agreement with the National Assembly of Viet Nam.

They also agreed to continue promoting collaboration in potential fields such as defense-security, and science-technology./.