President Vo Van Thuong’s Italy visit tightens bilateral relations: Italian media

President Vo Van Thuong holds talks with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella. (Photo: VNA)

Rome (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong's State visit to Italy and visit to the Vatican from July 25-29 continue to receive wide coverage on Italian newspapers.

The AGCNews on July 29 ran an article about the tightened relations between Hanoi and Rome after the Vietnamese President’s visit.

The article emphasised that Vietnam and Italy have issued a joint statement on strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership, which reaffirms the strong relationship between the two countries and plans for future cooperation in politics, diplomacy, defense and security. 

It said during high-level talks, Italy has always affirmed its determination to promote comprehensive relations with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority for developing relations in Southeast Asia. Vietnam continues to be one of the ten emerging countries that Italy prioritises to develop trade and investment cooperation by 2030.

The article reviewed new steps in cooperation between the two countries, including the growing trade and investment partnership, with two-way trade turnover having doubled since 2010. Vietnam is Italy's largest trading partner among ASEAN countries while Italy is Vietnam's third largest partner among EU members.

Vietnamese musical instrument is introduced to Italian President. (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, the La Voce di Alba newspaper published an article quoting MP Chiara Gribaudo, Vice President of Italian Democratic Party as saying after her meeting with President Vo Van Thuong in Rome that the new trade agreements with Vietnam - the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) - have been ratified by the Italian Parliament, which opens up new important commercial opportunities for businesses and show support for new business perspectives./