Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Rome ahead of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan’s visit to Italy from June 29 to July 1, the ambassador said that the bilateral relationship is well-positioned to reach a higher level of strategic partnership in the near future.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung |
Hung emphasized the deep historical ties between the two nations. Italy was one of the first European countries to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973. Notably, President Ho Chi Minh once stayed in Italy during his quest for national salvation in 1928, and today, 21 streets across Italy bear his name, which underscores the enduring friendship between the two nations.
In 2013, Vietnam and Italy established a strategic partnership, marking a turning point in bilateral relations. A significant milestone was the state visit by the State President of Vietnam to Italy in July 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties. The joint statement released during the visit reaffirmed both countries' commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership and further deepening cooperation in a practical and dynamic manner.
The Vietnam-Italy relationship has achieved notable progress in various areas. Political trust has reached a high level, with frequent exchanges of high-level delegations and efforts to increase strategic cohesion.
Economic relations have expanded significantly. In 2024, two-way trade reached 6.9 billion USD, driven by the positive impact of the E.U.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Defense-security ties, locality-to-locality cooperation, and people-to-people exchange have all seen progress.
According to the Vietnamese Ambassador, Vietnam and Italy share immense potential for cooperation in both traditional and emerging areas. Building on their strong strategic framework, the two countries can continue to deepen collaboration in traditional sectors such as trade, defense, education, and science; and new areas such as green transition, circular economy, renewable energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, aviation, and space technology.
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A Vietnamese tourism promotion program in Italy |
The two countries also share common views on major international issues. Both support multilateralism, a rules-based international order, and cooperation for peace, stability, and sustainable development. These shared values provide a solid basis for effective coordination in multilateral forums such as the United Nations (U.N.), Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP), as well as ASEAN–E.U. mechanisms. Vietnam stands ready to act as a bridge between Italy and ASEAN.
To elevate bilateral relations to new heights, the ambassador proposed five strategic directions, including strengthening exchanges at all levels, especially high level; identifying key and prioritized contents to boost economic, trade, and investment ties; enhancing defense and security cooperation; boosting cultural, educational and tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges; and developing local-level partnerships.
Source: VNA