Viet Nam and Italy agreed to lift their bilateral ties to strategic partnership to explore more fresh cooperation opportunities.

Viet Nam and Italy agreed to lift their bilateral ties to strategic partnership to explore more fresh cooperation opportunities.

Vietnamese Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and Italian PM Mario Monti, Italy – Photo: VOV

The two leaders reached a consensus on encouraging businesses to expand investments and linkages in such areas as infrastructure, energy and environment, and speed up the signing of cooperation documents on culture, education-training, national defense and security.

Italy voiced supports for the comprehensive ties between Viet Nam and the EU within the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Meanwhile, Viet Nam promised to back closer linkages between Italy and ASEAN. 

Both General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Italian PM Mario Monti witnessed the signing ceremony of a Joint Statement on the establishment of the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Italy; the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Italy House in Viet Nam; the Action Program on educational cooperation in 2013-2016.

On the occasion, a letter of intent on the establishment of a training center and excellent research; a MoU between the two Ministries of National Defense; a MoU on administrative cooperation and administrative assistance in the customs area; a MoU on cooperation between the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and Italy’s energy group were inked. 

The same day, Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation partook in a celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Italy./.