Vietnam and Italy continue to promote relations

Việt Nam và Italy tiếp tục thúc đẩy quan hệ- Ảnh 1. — Mr. Raffaele Cattaneo, Secretary of State of Lombardy region, welcomed Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan at the headquarters of the Lombardy Region Building - Photo: VNA

Welcoming Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to visit the Lombardy region, President Attilio Fontana affirmed that the visit demonstrates Vietnam's goodwill in promoting Vietnam - Italy relations. Recalling the good memories of his visit to Vietnam in 2023, President Fotana highly appreciated the merger of administrative units and the operation of two-level local governments in Vietnam, saying that this is an important measure for the country's socio -economic development.

President Fontana believes that the Vietnam - Italy relationship in general and the Vietnam - Lombardy relationship in particular still have much potential for development; Lombardy businesses have great confidence and desire to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam. President Fontana also expressed his delight at the opening of the Hanoi - Milan direct flight during his visit, creating more favorable conditions for trade and people-to-people exchanges.

Expressing her pleasure to visit the Lombardy region, VicePresident Vo Thi Anh Xuan affirmed that Vietnam highly values the strategic partnership with Italy, wishing to promote the bilateral relationship in depth, substance and effectiveness in many fields, including cooperation between the Lombardy region and Vietnamese localities, especially in the fields of trade - investment and climate change response. The Vice President proposed that the Lombardy region cooperate with a number of specific provinces and economic centers of Vietnam; expressing her belief that the opening of a direct flight from Hanoi to Milan, the capital of the Lombardy region, will help connect and strengthen cooperation between the two localities, two cultures and two peoples.

At the meeting, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan listened to many opinions from members of the two delegations on measures to promote relations between Vietnam and Italy as well as between Vietnamese localities and the Lombardy region, especially in areas such as trade-investment, energy conversion, tourism, culture, international financial center, education-training, science-technology, industry, digital transformation, and circular economy.

Việt Nam và Italy tiếp tục thúc đẩy quan hệ- Ảnh 2. — Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community and close friends in Italy - Photo: VNA

On the same day, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with representatives of the Vietnamese community and close friends of Italy on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday. The Vice President expressed her emotion at the sentiments of the Vietnamese people and Italian friends and hoped that the Vietnamese people in Italy and Italian friends would continue to closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy, continue to be ambassadors to foster friendship and act as an important bridge to promote multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.