Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan visits and works in Italy

Photo caption — *President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana welcomes VicePresident Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Photo: Duong Hoa/ VNA reporter in Rome*

Welcoming Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to visit the Republic of Italy, President of the Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana expressed his admiration for Vietnam's recent socio -economic achievements; was pleased with the positive progress in bilateral relations and affirmed that he always attaches importance to promoting the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership, wishing to promote cooperation between the two countries in all fields, including cooperation between the two countries' parliaments.

Pleased to meet with President of the House of Representatives Lorenzo Fontana, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan sincerely thanked the President of the Italian House of Representatives for the warm and respectful welcome given to the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. The Vice President affirmed that Vietnam always remembers and appreciates the valuable support of the Italian people in the past struggle for independence and national reunification, as well as in the current national development and international integration, especially the great support of Italy in vaccines that has helped Vietnam control the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vice President assessed that the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership has developed strongly in many fields in recent times. In the context of the current volatile world situation, the two countries need to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, and actively implement existing commitments, agreements, and cooperation mechanisms, especially the Joint Statement on strengthening the strategic partnership in 2023; continue to effectively implement the EVFTA, enhance trade and investment promotion between the business communities of the two countries; strengthen cooperation in peacekeeping within the framework of the United Nations, exchange expertise in overcoming the consequences of war, cyber security, and preventing transnational crimes; support Vietnam in responding to climate change and clean energy transition; continue to coordinate in organizing cultural and artistic exchange events and tourism promotion; strengthen cooperation in other areas such as science - technology, education - training and people-to-people exchange. The two sides also agreed to support the promotion of Vietnam - EU relations, especially within the framework of the EVFTA as well as the EU's initiatives for the Indo-Pacific region.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations of National Assembly leaders, leaders of committees as well as parliamentary groups to share experiences in legislation, supervision and innovation of parliamentary activities; at the same time, closely coordinate at international parliamentary forums.

President of the House of Representatives Lorenzo Fontana affirmed that he will have a voice to lobby the parliaments of the remaining European Union (EU) member countries to soon ratify EVIPA, urge the European Commission to remove the IUU “yellow card” for Vietnam’s seafood exports, and promote the implementation of the commitments signed between the two countries to prepare well for high-level visits between the two sides in the coming time.
Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan suggested that the Italian National Assembly pay attention and continue to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Italy to stabilize their lives, integrate and contribute to the Italian socio-economy; support the expansion of Vietnamese language teaching at Italian universities, contributing to creating a bridge and enhancing understanding between the people of the two countries.

On this occasion, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan conveyed the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Speaker of the House of Representatives Lorenzo Fontana to pay an official visit to Vietnam in the near future. Speaker of the House of Representatives Lorenzo Fontana happily accepted the invitation and affirmed his great desire to visit Vietnam.

Earlier the same day, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan had a meeting with Senator Giulio Terzi, Chairman of the EU Policy Committee of the Italian Senate.

Welcoming Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and the Vietnamese delegation to Italy, Senator Giulio Terzi extended his warmest greetings from the President of the Italian Senate to the Vice President and affirmed that Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan's visit is a very important event, demonstrating the positive development of the relationship between the two countries and the regular exchange of high-level delegations at all levels. The Senator believes that the Vice President's visit will contribute to promoting the relationship between the two countries.

Speaking at the meeting with Senator Giulio Terzi, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan thanked the Senator for his active contributions to the development of Vietnam-Italy relations in various positions, including promoting the establishment of the Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership. The Vice President assessed that the Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership has developed well in all fields and suggested that the two sides promote delegation exchanges at all levels; actively implement existing commitments, agreements and cooperation mechanisms, especially the Joint Statement on strengthening the Strategic Partnership in 2023, cooperation mechanisms in diplomacy, defense, economy, science and technology; continue to effectively implement the EVFTA, and enhance trade and investment promotion between the business communities of the two countries. The two sides also need to strengthen cooperation and support each other at international forums, especially within the framework of Vietnam-EU, ASEAN-EU and United Nations mechanisms. Vietnam also highly appreciates Italy's role within the EU framework and wishes to continue to closely coordinate with the EU and its member countries, including Italy, a key member of the EU.

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan also suggested that the two sides increase exchanges of delegations of the National Assembly, Committees and parliamentary friendship groups to share experiences in legislation, supervision and innovation of parliamentary activities. Close coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Forum (ASEP).

Agreeing with the proposals of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Senator Giulio Terzi also affirmed that with his role and relationships, he will further promote the remaining EU countries to soon ratify EVIPA, a model agreement, demonstrating the good relationship between Vietnam and the EU; urging the European Commission to soon remove the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnam's seafood exports. The Senator also said that Italy and the EU are implementing many policies on green and circular economic development, renewable energy, and sustainable development. On that basis, the Senator will promote cooperation between Italy and Vietnam in the fields of digital transformation, renewable energy, meeting the development goals of the United Nations, COP-29, the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC 3) for the health of the people.

The Senator also agreed that the two sides need to continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economics - trade - investment, security - defense, cultural exchange, new fields such as circular economy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, transport infrastructure and promote cooperation on a multilateral level.

Following her working program in Italy, on the afternoon of June 30 local time, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with the Mayor of Rome, Mr. Roberto Gualtieri.

Welcoming Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to visit the capital Rome, Mayor Roberto Gualtieri assessed that the Vietnam-Italy relationship in general and the relationship with Rome in particular have developed very well in recent times. The Mayor expressed his admiration for Vietnam's history of fighting for national liberation and unification in the past as well as its achievements in socio-economic development today. The Mayor also shared that Italians love the beauty, culture and history of Vietnam.

Pleased to visit the ancient city of Rome, a world-famous cultural and historical center, the Vice President affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership in many fields, including cooperation between localities of the two countries.

Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said that Rome has had the honor of hosting many important events celebrating the relationship between the two countries and through these events, has had the opportunity to approach and be impressed by the traditional beauty of Vietnam. With that spirit, Mayor Gualtieri hopes to further promote the relationship between Rome and localities of Vietnam, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Rome and Hanoi, opening up new cooperation opportunities, implementing specific cooperation plans in preserving culture and world heritage of Vietnam.

Appreciating the increasingly developing friendship between Rome and Hanoi, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said that the two sides should soon sign and effectively implement a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two cities. At the same time, the Vice President asked the Rome City government to support increased cooperation with Vietnamese localities in the fields of archaeology, heritage conservation, and cultural exchange to enhance promotion and people-to-people exchanges.

At the meeting, the two sides also agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in other areas such as trade - investment, culture - education, sports, tourism, public transport, urbanization, digital transformation, artificial intelligence ... as well as coordinate to solve global issues such as climate change.

On the evening of June 29, right after arriving in Italy, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met and talked with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy.

Welcoming Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to Italy, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung said that the Italian government attaches great importance to the visit and welcomes her with a higher ceremony than usual. Regarding relations, the Ambassador shared that the Vietnam - Italy relationship has a long tradition, President Ho Chi Minh once worked in Italy and currently in Italy there are 21 streets named after him. In recent times, the relationship between the two countries has developed very positively in many fields, Italian enterprises are very interested and excited to do business in Vietnam.

Reporting to the Vice President, the Ambassador affirmed that the Embassy's staff are always united and united, fulfilling their assigned tasks well. On behalf of all staff, Ambassador Duong Hai Hung thanked the Party and State leaders for always paying attention to the Embassy, both in terms of work and the lives of staff.

Praising the Embassy for always completing its tasks well despite the huge and complicated workload and limited staff, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan asked the Embassy's staff to continue to promote their existing traditions, constantly improve their political qualities and professional capacity to better fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party, State and people.

Sharing with the Embassy's staff, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said that the Party and State are implementing many important policies, including streamlining the apparatus, arranging administrative boundaries, celebrating many important holidays, looking forward to the 14th National Party Congress, ready to enter an era of prosperity, prosperity, happiness for the country, and breakthroughs in national development. In that context, the Vice President asked the Embassy's staff to thoroughly grasp the direction of General Secretary To Lam, the Politburo, the Secretariat and the Party Central Committee on foreign affairs, closely following the local and regional situation, improving the quality of forecasting work, and providing strategic advice to the Party and State to make appropriate, timely and effective decisions in the context of the volatile world and regional situation; Promote the spirit of solidarity, constantly study, research, practice, improve qualifications, understand the locality, research good experiences, potentials and strengths of the locality to advise the Party and State.

The Vice President assigned the Embassy to continue to promote its role as a bridge between the Party, the State and the Vietnamese community in the host country; continue to support and accompany the people and will be a bridge connecting love, uniting the people in community activities and towards the Fatherland; promote the resources and intelligence of overseas Vietnamese, helping the Vietnamese community in the host country unite, develop, always towards the homeland; promptly grasp the thoughts, aspirations and recommendations of the people to make proposals to the leaders in the country.

At the meeting, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan also listened to the Embassy staff share frankly and positively about the work and life situation of the Embassy.

Source: https://vpctn.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/hoat-dong-cua-pho-chu-tich-nuoc/pho-chu-tich-nuoc-vo-thi-anh-xuan-tham-va-lam-viec-tai-italy.html