Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue (R) in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Relations between Vietnamand Italy are going from strength to strength, according to VietnameseAmbassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue.
The two countries set up diplomaticties 45 years ago and a strategic partnership five years ago, enhancing theircooperation in politics, economy, culture and education, she said.
Hue made the statement in a recent interview withVietnam News Agency on the occasion of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’supcoming visit to Vietnam and attendance at the third High-Level Dialogue onASEAN-Italy Economic Relations in Hanoi on June 5-6.
The two countries have regularly exchanged politicaldelegations, with notable visits to Italy by Party General Secretary Nguyen PhuTrong in 2013, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in 2014, PresidentTran Dai Quang in 2016, and Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh in 2018 as wellas the visits to Vietnam by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in 2014 and PresidentSergio Mattarella in 2015.
The two countries have maintained bilateralcooperation mechanisms such as the deputy foreign ministerial politicalconsultation, the deputy ministerial defence policy dialogue and the jointcommission on economic cooperation, Hue said, adding that they also supporteach other at multilateral forums and organisations like the United Nations(UN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Two-way trade tripled within the past decadefrom 1.5 billion USD in 2009 to more than 4.6 billion USD in 2018. Vietnam isthe biggest trade partner of Italy in the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) while Italy is the third largest trade partner of Vietnam inthe European Union (EU), she said.
Bilateral cooperation in other fields such asculture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges has also beenenhanced. Many localities of the two countries have forged connectivity inrealms from education-training and environmental and urban management to smartcities and high-tech agriculture.
Regarding the third High-Level Dialogue onASEAN-Italy Economic Relations, the Ambassador expressed her belief thatthrough the dialogue, Italian businesses will better understand the benefits ofcooperating in trade and investment with ASEAN member countries, includingVietnam, especially after the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA).-VNA
The Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Italian enterprises to invest in the Southeast Asian country, helping increase the trade value between the two nations, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan highlighted the development of the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership while receiving Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Enzo Moavero Milanesi in Hanoi on May 7.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Enzo Moavero Milanesi in Hanoi on May 7.
The European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)will open up opportunities for Italian firms, especially- small and medium-sized ones, heard recent bilateral economic and trade promotion seminars held in Parma and Piacenza cities, the Italian northern region of Emilia – Romagna.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese localities' readiness to implement the two-tier local administration model, the evacuation of 18 Vietnamese citizens from Iran, Petrovietnam's 11th ranking in the 2025 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 are among news highlights on June 17 evening.
The General Secretary underlined the resolve to achieve a growth rate of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following period. He noted that these are mandatory targets, with no alternative path to success.
Restructuring and improving the quality of officials, civil servants, and public employees is no longer a choice, but an urgent requirement to transition from administrative management to governance in service of the people.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Thi Bich Hue (R) in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA) 
