Italian Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi. (Photo: VNA)Tripodi said that Italy was one of thefirst western countries to set up diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973.Since then, the two sides have maintained their profound friendship and solidarity.
During COVID-19, the Vietnamese Governmentpresented Italy with more than 300,000 masks, while Italy provided Vietnam withover 2.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, she noted.
She underlined that for Italy, Vietnam is an important interlocutor and anessential partner to ensure balance and promote sustainable economic progressin the Indo-Pacific, a region that is playing a more central role than ever ininternational politics. Italy is strengthening its commitment to theimplementation of the European Union (EU) Strategy.
According to the Italian official, one of the bright spots in bilateralrelations is the Joint Committee on economic cooperation, which has supportedthe two sides in obtaining achievements in economic and trade collaboration. Italyis pleased to organise the eighth meeting of the committee later this year.
She noted that 10 years ago, the two sidessigned strategic cooperation agreements, providing the necessary institutional framework for the growth of bilateral relations. Joint action plans have alsofacilitated the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, which has gone beyondeconomic exchanges and expanded to other new strategies with full ofopportunities such as defence, justice and environment.
Commenting on the cooperation potential between the two countries in thefuture, Tripodi said that along with strong connections reflected via regular exchange of high-level visits,the two sides have enjoyed fruitful economic and trade ties, with two-way tradehitting nearly 6 billion EUR (6.2 billion USD) last year.
In terms of defence, since 2013, the two sides have organised a strategicdefence dialogue at deputy ministerial level every two years. The fourthedition of the dialogue will be held in Rome later this year, she said.
In the field of justice, the two countriesare about to sign three important agreements on criminal justice cooperation,transfer of detainees and extradition, according to Tripodi.
Over environmental cooperation, she saidthat on the sidelines of the first EU-ASEAN Summit, Vietnam signed the JustEnergy Transition Partnership, an initiative to finance the energy transition whichwas initiated by G7 members, the EU, Denmark and Norway. She said that Italywill join hands with Vietnam by providing 500 million EUR (532 million USD) infive years through the Green Climate Fund and the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, anItalian financial service provider that offers banking and financial services.
The memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Environment ofItaly and the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, which took effectin 2018, has prompted the growth of the cooperation in the field, she said.
In the field of science and culture, theItaly-Vietnam Science and Technology Cooperation Committee will meet in Italy thisyear, during which the two sides are expected to sign a new cultural protocol,she said.
The official underlined that Italy’s cooperation with ASEAN, includingVietnam, an influential and active member of the grouping, has been effective.Since 2020, the development partnership has linked Italy and ASEAN, helping therelationship between the two sides continue to grow thanks to a variety oftraining and capacity-building activities coordinated and sponsored by theItalian Foreign Ministry, in which Vietnam is an active participant.
Regarding activities to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, she said that the opening of theseries will be held on March 31 with a Vietnamese fashion show in Rome, one dayafter the political consultation between Tripodi and her Vietnamese counterpartLe Thi Thu Hang.
A ceremony to celebrate the anniversary andthe 10-year strategic partnership between the two countries will also be heldduring Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong’s visit. A closing ceremony of theItaly-Vietnam Year 2023 is scheduled for the end of the year, she said, adding thata number of cultural and art activities will also be organised.
Tripodi held that in order to further promote the bilateral ties, Italy hopesto strengthen political dialogue and mutual understanding with Vietnam,especially amid the complicated world situation.
At the end of this year, the signing of theAction Plan for the 2024-2026 period within the Strategic Partnership Documentwill allow Italy and Vietnam to renew their shared commitment and broaden thepath to success that the two countries have traveled together, thus creating a solid foundation to further strengthen the already sound bilateral relationship, she stated./.
VNA
