Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Manlio Di Stefano (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – Vietnam, in its capacity asa non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and Italy – in itsrole as Chair of the G20 and Co-Chair of the 26th Conference of theParties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change, could strive and work together on fields of sharedinterest such as trade liberalisation, climate change combat and respect ofinternational law, said Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and InternationalCooperation of Italy Manlio DiStefano.
In an interview recentlygranted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Rome, Di Stefano said in recentyears, Vietnam has made a stride in history, which was the result of theVietnamese leaders’ strategic vision.
The country has overcomedifficulties during the Cold War and chosen the road of modernisation andmultilateral integration with basic steps such as entry to the UN, ASEAN, theWorld Trade Organisation, and establishment of ties with regional organisationslike the European Union as well as strategic partnership with many nationsworldwide, including Italy, he said.
According to him, Vietnam’s openingof door to receive foreign investment, including those from Italy, has brought to Vietnam necessary resources in terms ofinvestment, labour and technology for national construction.
Italy pays attention toVietnam’s important role in the region and on international arena, he said,adding that the two nations have supported principles of a world order based on therespect of rules and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as shared acommon wish to effectively promote multilateralism and sustainable developmentfor all stakeholders.
He reiterated ItalianPresident Sergio Mattarella’s congratulatory message sent to new StatePresident Nguyen Xuan Phuc that Italy will grasp cooperation opportunities fromthe Vietnam – Italy strategic partnership established in 2013 and the Italy –ASEAN development partnership signed in 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic showedthat common issues must be settled via solidarity and cooperation, which inspiredItaly in its role as G20 Chair and promptly the country to fund 116 million USDfor the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) to offer equal access to vaccinesworldwide, including Vietnam. He also hailed Vietnam for effectively copingwith the pandemic thanks to its experience in dealing with SARS in 2003.
At a fiber factory in Ha Nam province (Photo: VNA)
Commenting on the prospectof bilateral cooperation after the European Union – Vietnam Free TradeAgreement (EVFTA) took effect in August 2020, Di Stefano expressed his belief in growingItaly-Vietnam trade ties this year. He suggested that Vietnam and the EUcontinue pursuing the goal of trade liberalisation in a more balanced manner.
As many as 110 Italian firmsare operating in Vietnam. Bilateral economic ties are growing, especially intraditional fields such as machinery, apparel, automobiles, farm produce, oiland gas.
The European nation alsosupports hi-tech investment in Vietnam in telecommunications, outer space,pharmaceuticals, architecture and design, renewable energy, and innovation industries, he said.
He also expressed his hope tovisit Vietnam when conditions allow./.
