Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs andInternational Cooperation Enzo Moavero Milanesi in Hanoi on May 7.

Minh spoke highly of the Italian official’s visit which willpave the way for the further growth of the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership.

Milanesi, who is on a Vietnam visit from May 6-8, expressedhis impression of Vietnam’s socio-economic and international integrationachievements over the years, the country’s rising role and position in ASEANand the Asia-Pacific region as well as contributions to the internationalcommunity.

The two sides showed their delight at positive progress inall aspects of the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership so far, especially in2018 when the two countries celebrated 45th anniversary of diplomatic relationsand five years of strategic partnership.

They affirmed that the two countries will continueincreasing meetings and exchanges of delegations at all level, especially the highlevel, while maintaining and effectively implementing mechanisms of deputyforeign ministerial-level strategic dialogue, deputy ministerial-level defencedialogue and Vietnam-Italy joint committee on economic cooperation.

Both sides agreed to sign an action plan to realise theVietnam-Italy strategic partnership for 2019-2020 soon.

The Italian side affirmed that economy will continue to bethe priority area in bilateral cooperation, pledging to strengthen trade andinvestment collaboration with Vietnam – a leading partner of Italy in ASEAN.

Minh welcomed Italian investors in areas of Italy’s strengthand Vietnam’s demand such as mechanics-manufacturing, garment and textiles,footwear, construction materials, energy, food processing, and oil and gasexploration and exploitation.

He proposed that the Italian Government give more favourableconditions for Vietnamese goods to access distribution channels as well assupermarkets and retail systems in Italy.

The two sides highlighted the significance of the EU-VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA), describing it as a motivation for theacceleration of bilateral trade and investment affiliation. They stressed theneed to hasten the EU to sign and ratify the deal.

Theyalso agreed to sketch out new directions for development cooperation to meetprioritised development goals of Vietnam and suit the two countries’ strategicpartnership, focusing on vocational training, environment, water management, floodwarning, small and medium-sized enterprise support, and health care.

Minh suggested the Italian Ministry continue assisting Vietnam in relicpreservation, increase scholarships and further facilitate Vietnamese studentsto study in Italy, while promoting research projects with Vietnam, makingscience-technology a priority field for cooperation in the coming time.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate at international forums andorganisations, especially within the framework of the UN, ASEM, EU-ASEAN,UNESCO, and affirmed to support Vietnam-EU ties as well as the relationsbetween Italy and other ASEAN countries in the context that Vietnam will takethe role of ASEAN Chair in 2020 and is running for a non-permanent membershipof the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

Minhwelcomed the initiative to organise the third high-level dialogue onASEAN-Italy economic relations in Hanoi in June, saying that this will be animportant chance for Italy to tighten economic-trade bonds with ASEANcountries.

They discussed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security,safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, affirmed therespect for law and stressed the stance of supporting the settlement ofdisputes by peaceful measure, in line with international law, including the1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). - VNA