The Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association in the Lombardy region (IVFA-L) on Nov. 19 convenes its regular meeting in Milan city.

Addressing the event, Senator Fausto Co, President of the Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association (IVFA), spoke highly of friendship activities of the IVFA-L as well as its efforts to organise the annual exchange, which, he said, helps Italian people, including those from the Lombardy region, have more chances to explore the land and people of Vietnam .

The senator called on the association to continue coordinating with other branches in providing support for Vietnam , especially in projects on poverty reduction, environment, health care and assisting Vietnamese Agent Orange /dioxin victims.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Dang Khanh Thoai praised the IVFA and the IVFA-L in consolidating the relations between the two countries over the past decades.

Tran Minh Chau, a member of the IVFA’s management board, said since 2002 the IVFA has partnered with the IVFA-L to organise a wide range of charitable activities such as presenting scholarships, each worth 1.5 million VND, to 500 students in Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Can Tho provinces.

They have also helped hospital and schools in several central provinces of Vietnam buy medical equipment and upgrade the infrastructure system, Chau said./.