VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam and Italy discussed measures to boost comprehensive cooperation in various areas during their first strategic dialogue in Hanoi on July 22.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Italian counterpart Bruno Archi.

Both sides expressed pleasure at the fine development of the ties of friendship and cooperation in all areas in recent times.

They recalled the outcome of a recent visit to Italy by Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, during which Vietnam and Italy decided to establish the strategic partnership, laying a firm foundation for broad and substantial relations in the future.

 Archi confirmed that Italy wants to deepen the multifaceted relations with Vietnam – a country with increased role in Southeast Asia. He informed that the Italian government has just included Vietnam in its prioritised list of 10 countries for trade and investment cooperation.

Son and Archi concurred that both Vietnam and Italy will encourage and create conditions for the two business circles to increase exchanges, share experience and establish partnerships, even in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, focusing on such areas as infrastructure, transportation, energy, the manufacturing industry, the environment, and the processing industry.

Both countries will increase cultural exchanges through jointly organising activities within the framework of the Vietnam Year in Italy and the Italy Year in Vietnam in 2013.

They will boost cooperation in education-training, culture, science-technology, and national defence through the exchange of delegations and joint projects.

Son and Archi acknowledged the results of joint Vietnam-Italy cooperation development projects in recent times and agreed to work on the 2013-15 programme of action for cooperation, with a focus on prioritised areas like the environment, health care education, and support for small- and medium-sized businesses.

They agreed to maintain consultation mechanisms for specific areas of cooperation between the two countries’ ministries and agencies. They also agreed to soon establish a joint committee for economic cooperation and convene the meeting of the joint committee for science and technology.

They discussed a plan of action to realise the Joint Statement on the Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership, and the final plan will be submitted to the two governments for approval.

Both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. They confirmed that the two countries’ Ministries of Foreign Affairs will continue working closely together at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN-EU and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).     

In its capacity as the coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam supports stronger trade and investment ties between ASEAN and the EU, said Son.

Meanwhile, Archi said Italy hails ASEAN’s important role and its centred mechanisms in the region, as well as supporting Vietnam in fully developing comprehensive relations with the EU. He said Italy will urge the EU to early ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Vietnam, conclude free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the Southeast Asian nation and recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

The Italian side shared Vietnam’s view on settling East Sea disputes through peaceful means and in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards building the Code of Conduct in the area.

The same day, Archi paid courtesy visits to Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Source: VOV