The Italian city of Torino wants to further step up cooperation with Vietnam in economics, culture and education, Chairman of the Municipal Council Giovani Ferraris has said.

Ferraris delivered the statement at a ceremony to erect President Ho Chi Minh’s statue at the Vietnamese Honorary Consulate in Torino on Oct. 14, which was also attended by Vietnamese Honorary Consul Sandra Scagliotti.

The city’s authorities are willing to support and cooperate with the Vietnam Study Centre and the Vietnamese Honorary Consulate in activities to promote Vietnamese culture and raise understanding about Vietnam among the local people, Ferraris said.

He also expressed his respect for President Ho Chi Minh, saying that the Italian people always have a respect for the President as well as sentiments towards the Vietnamese people.

On the evening of the same day, a concert was held under the baton of Enrico Intra, who organised a concert in 1962 to raise funds for Agent Orange/dioxin victims in Vietnam .

The Vietnam Study Centre in Torino has a library with about 4,000 books about Vietnam . This is the only library about Vietnam in Italy to help the Vietnamese community and the Italian people to study and learn about Vietnam as well as President Ho Chi Minh./.