Italian scholars confident in prospects of Vietnam-Italy ties
Italy and Vietnam, sharing a sustainable relationship, see great potential to further bolster their partnership extensively and intensively, Andrea Fais, Editor-in-Chief of Scenari Internazionali (international scenarios) magazine told Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents in Rome on the occasion of President Vo Van Thuong’s State visit to Italy.
Trade between Vietnam and Italy increases 21% in 2021 and 11% in 2022 to 6.2 billion USD (Photo: VNA)
Rome (VNA) – Italy and Vietnam, sharing asustainable relationship, see great potential to further bolster theirpartnership extensively and intensively, Andrea Fais, Editor-in-Chief of ScenariInternazionali (international scenarios) magazine told Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents in Rome on the occasion of PresidentVo Van Thuong’s State visit to Italy.
Fais highlighted the significance of the Vietnamese President's visit, which takes place only after five months since theleader took office.
It shows Vietnam’s appreciation of Italy as its leadingpartner in Europe, and at the same time affirms that Vietnam is a partner and a precious friend of Italy, he stated.
Meanwhile, Matteo Napolitano, a professor of InternationalHistory at Molise University and an editor of La Civiltà Cattolica magazine commentedthat the visit has a significant meaning to Italy as the strategic partnershipwith Vietnam has great value for the country in the context of a dynamic Asianeconomy.
For many years, Vietnam has been a leading trade partner of Italy among ASEANcountries. After the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect inAugust 2020, trade between Vietnam and Italy has increased significantly at 21%in 2021 and 11% in 2022 to 6.2 billion USD. Meanwhile, a roadmap for theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) has been underway, he noted.
Matteo Napolitano, professor of International History at Molise University (Photo: VNA)
Regarding the prospects of the bilateral ties, Napolitanoexpressed his belief that with the close traditional friendship, Vietnam andItaly will enjoy a thriving partnership after the Vietnamese President’s visit.
He said that Italian people admire the hardworking and dynamism of Vietnamesepeople, adding that cultural ties between the two countries have also expandedwith the establishment of various joint science-culture facilities as well asorganisations.
Highlighting the economic cooperation prospects betweenVietnam and Italy, Fais said that Italian firms are interested in Vietnam, afast growing market. With a proper approach, opportunities for them in Vietnamare abundant, he held.
Similarly, chances are increasing for Vietnameseinvestors in Italy, he noted. Currently, Italy is the fourth biggest tradepartner of Vietnam among EU members. Therefore, there is plenty of room for thetwo sides to promote and balance bilateral trade, he stated.
Fais cited a report by Dezan Shira Associates showingthat Italian businesses are keen on energy, tourism, IT and processing sectorsin Vietnam.
He underlined that with the positive and comprehensivepartnership between Vietnam and Italy over the past 50 years, President Thuong’svisit will make the future of bilateral ties brighter and moresustainable./.
President Vo Van Thuong’s upcoming State visit to Italy is expected to boost bilateral trade and bring cooperation opportunities for the businesses of the two countries, which share many similarities in economic structure with many small and medium enterprises. Their economies are complementary to each other in terms of industries and products.
On the occasion of President Vo Van Thuong's State visit to Italy this month at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro granted Vietnam News Agency an interview ahead of the visit, expecting that it will contribute to update the political relations between the two countries and orient their cooperation in all sectors.
The State visit by President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse to Italy at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella is expected to lift the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new height.
Cooperation between Vietnam and Italy has been reinforced in various fields, such as the economy, national defence, justice, and the environment, since the two sides established a strategic partnership a decade ago.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Trade between Vietnam and Italy increases 21% in 2021 and 11% in 2022 to 6.2 billion USD (Photo: VNA) 
Matteo Napolitano, professor of International History at Molise University (Photo: VNA) 
