Hanoi (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong arrivedin Hanoi on July 29 morning, concluding his State visit to Italy and his visitto the Vatican at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella andPope Francis, respectively, from July 25-29.

The trip marks a new milestone in the 50-yeardiplomatic ties and the 10-year strategic partnership of Vietnam and Italy, whileaffirming Vietnam’s good will in strengthening cooperation with the Vatican.

During his stay in Italy, Thuong held talks with hisItalian counterpart Mattarella, met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and attendedthe signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two countries.

At the talks, the leaders expressed their resolve to turn a new page in the strategic partnership, making it stronger and more effective,and contribute to common goals of sustainable development and addressing globalchallenges on the basis of balanced, mutual benefits, for the sake of theirpeople, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and theworld.  

Vietnam welcomed the Italian Parliament's ratificationof the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) which took place atthe same time with the President’s visit.

Italy acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in seriously andfully implementing the European Commission (EC)’s recommendations in the fightagainst illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate forprosperity, and sustainable and inclusive development of both nations, and forpeace, cooperation and development in the region and the world in line with basicprinciples of international law and the UN Charter.

The Presidents spoke highly of the signing of anagreement on extradition and another on the transfer of sentenced personsbetween Vietnam and Italy.

Thuong also had meetings with other Italian leaders, includingPresident of the Italian Senate Ignazio La Russa, President of the ItalianChamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana, and Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, andvisited Italy’s Tuscany region.  

President Thuong, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamesedelegation attended a national banquet hosted by the Italian President and hisdaughter, and a concert marking the 50th anniversary of thebilateral diplomatic ties.

Within the visit, the President also held separatemeetings with leaders the  CommunistParty, the Democratic Party, and the Communist Refoundation Party, during whichthey affirmed wish to enhance cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnamwith the Italian political parties.

While in the Vatican, Thuong met with Pope Francis, andCardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, and visited theSistine Chapel.

On the occasion ofthe visit by the Vietnamese President to the Vatican on July 27, 2023, with thedesire to continue advancing bilateral relations, the two sides officiallyannounced that the Vietnamese Government and the Holy See concluded the“Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office ofthe Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam”. 

In a joint press release, both sides expressed their confidence that theResident Papal Representative will fulfill the role and mandate given in the agreement,provide support to the Vietnamese Catholic community, and serve as a bridge toadvance relations between Vietnam and the Holy See.

At the meeting with the Pope, Thuong stressed that theconclusion of the Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representativeand the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam is an importantstep in the context of positive development in the bilateral relations, and theresult of discussions in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, andcooperation.

The leader said he hopes that Pope Francis will paymore attention to guiding the Vietnam Catholic Church and the Catholic communityin the Southeast Asian nation to further fulfill the vocation of “accompanyingthe nation” and to be “good Catholics and good citizens.”

The State visit to Italy and the visit to the Vaticanby President Thuong is the first delegation exchange at the head-of-state levelbetween Vietnam, Italy and the Vatican over the past seven years.

The success of the two visits have further affirmedthe foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress on independence,self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, helping promoteand deepen cooperation between Vietnam and Italy and the Vatican./.