Italian official: Vietnam, Italy could work on fields of shared interest
Rome (VNA) – Vietnam, in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, and Italy – in its role as Chair of the G20 and Co-Chair of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, could strive and work together on fields of shared interest such as trade liberalisation, climate change combat and respect of international law, said Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Manlio Di Stefano.
In an interview recently
granted to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Rome, Di Stefano said in recent
years, Vietnam has made a stride in history, which was the result of the
Vietnamese leaders’ strategic vision.
The country has overcome
difficulties during the Cold War and chosen the road of modernisation and
multilateral integration with basic steps such as entry to the UN, ASEAN, the
World Trade Organisation, and establishment of ties with regional organisations
like the European Union as well as strategic partnership with many nations
worldwide, including Italy, he said.
According to him, Vietnam’s opening
of door to receive foreign investment, including those from Italy, has brought to Vietnam necessary resources in terms of
investment, labour and technology for national construction.
Italy pays attention to
Vietnam’s important role in the region and on international arena, he said,
adding that the two nations have supported principles of a world order based on the
respect of rules and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as well as shared a
common wish to effectively promote multilateralism and sustainable development
for all stakeholders.
He reiterated Italian
President Sergio Mattarella’s congratulatory message sent to new State
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc that Italy will grasp cooperation opportunities from
the Vietnam – Italy strategic partnership established in 2013 and the Italy –
ASEAN development partnership signed in 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed
that common issues must be settled via solidarity and cooperation, which inspired
Italy in its role as G20 Chair and promptly the country to fund 116 million USD
for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) to offer equal access to vaccines
worldwide, including Vietnam. He also hailed Vietnam for effectively coping
with the pandemic thanks to its experience in dealing with SARS in 2003.
Commenting on the prospect
of bilateral cooperation after the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade
Agreement (EVFTA) took effect in August 2020, Di Stefano expressed his belief in growing
Italy-Vietnam trade ties this year. He suggested that Vietnam and the EU
continue pursuing the goal of trade liberalisation in a more balanced manner.
As many as 110 Italian firms
are operating in Vietnam. Bilateral economic ties are growing, especially in
traditional fields such as machinery, apparel, automobiles, farm produce, oil
and gas.
The European nation also
supports hi-tech investment in Vietnam in telecommunications, outer space,
pharmaceuticals, architecture and design, renewable energy, and innovation industries, he said.
He also expressed his hope to
visit Vietnam when conditions allow./.