The Vietnamese State leader made the remark at the Vietnam-Italy Business Forum in Rome on November 23 as part of his State-level visit to the European country.

Vietnam wishes that Italy will open its market for Vietnamese farm produce and seafood, President Quang said.

He stated that Vietnam encourages Italian firms to invest in mechanical engineering, garment-textiles, leather footwear and timber and food processing, as well as cooperation between the two countries’ small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The President also called for Italian investment in transport and technology-information infrastructure under the form of public-private partnership (PPP) model.

He urged Italian enterprises to share experience with their Vietnamese counterparts and help them connect with the global market.

He also expressed hope that Italy, as one of the world’s powers in tourism, will share its experience with Vietnam in promoting tourism and preserving historical sites and cultural heritage.

The leader affirmed the Vietnamese State’s commitment to creating an open, favourable and equal investment climate so as to meet requirements of international integration, for the sake of the two countries’ firms.

“Vietnam warmly welcomes Italian enterprises and pins high hope on their success in the country,” he stated.

President Quang went on to say that Vietnam wishes to elevate the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level that matches the two countries’ potential, strength and demands, making it a model of the Asia-Europe and ASEAN-EU cooperation.

He used the occasion to brief Italian firms on achievements Vietnam has recorded during the past 30 years of reform.

Vietnam has transformed from an underdeveloped country to a developing one with middle-income status, stablised macro economy and tamed inflation, the leader said.

The country’s per capita income now stands at about 2,100 USD and its economic scale exceeded 200 billion USD.

Vietnam is set to fulfill its commitments to the ASEAN Community and the World Trade Organisation, and join new-generation free trade agreements, including a deal with the EU, while continuing with international integration, he said.

The President also highlighted the fruitful relationship between Vietnam and Italy, particularly since the two countries signed a joint statement on the strategic partnership in January 2013.

Italy is one of Vietnam’s major European trade partners with total bilateral trade rising from 3.4 billion USD in 2013 to 4.3 billion UD in 2015. Meanwhile, Vietnam is Italy’s largest trade partner in the ASEAN.

Italy now has 77 investment projects in the Southeast Asian nation with many brand names now popular in Vietnam such as Piaggio motorbike and Ariston water heater.

At the forum, the leader also talked about the thriving affiliation in culture, education-training and science-technology between the two countries.

President meets leaders of Italian parties

Vietnam attaches importance to developing the strategic partnership with Italy, its important partner in the EU, President Tran Dai Quang has told leaders of several Italian parties. 

The President separately met with leaders of the Democratic Party, the Communist Refoundation Party and the Communist Party of Italy on November 23 (local time) as part of his State visit to the country. 

At these meetings, the Vietnamese leader informed his hosts about outcomes of his talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

He noted with pleasure the strong development of the bilateral relationship across fields since the two countries established their strategic partnership in January 2013.

President Quang also introduced socio-economic development orientations as well as foreign policy set by the 12th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), affirming that the Vietnamese Party treasures the traditional friendship with Italy’s left-wing parties.

He stressed the CPV’s stance on maintaining, consolidating and enhancing its relations with fraternal parties while expanding ties with major and ruling parties in foreign countries. 

Reviewing the 18th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties in Hanoi last October, the President noted the parties’ resolve to struggle for peace, independence, equality, democracy, civilisation and socialism. 

The Vietnamese leader expressed his hope that the Italian left-wing parties and the CPV will increase meetings and experience sharing as well as support each other to achieve common objectives, contributing to deepening and materialising the bilateral strategic partnership. 

In reply, the Italian hosts reassured the solidarity and friendship of their parties towards Vietnam’s past struggle for national liberation as well as the present cause of national construction.

VNA