(VNF) - Vietnam and Italy should strengthen their cooperation in all areas, especially trade and investment, heard a seminar entitled “Vietnam-Italy Friendly Relations and Cooperation in the new situation” at the headquarters of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) on November 10^th.

The seminar was held by the Vietnam-Italy Friendship Association (VIFA) with the participation of representatives of the Italy-Vietnam Association, Italy-Vietnam Friendship Chapter in Veneto and the Center for Vietnam Studies in Torino (Italy).

President of VIFA Nguyen Van Nam (M) chaired the seminar. (Photo: Dai Son/VNF)

Addressing the function, VIFA President Nguyen Van Nam said the bilateral collaboration is growing robustly after Vietnam and Italy signed a joint statement on establishing bilateral strategic partnership on January 21^st, 2013.

Moreover, Vietnam and Italy established diplomatic ties in 1973. Italy was the first Western European country to encourage cooperation between Vietnam and Europe; today, the country is one of Vietnam's leading EU trade partners

Italian Vice Ambassador to Vietnam Natalia Sanginiti noted that Vietnam has become an important partner of her country in ASEAN, adding that an increasing number of Italian firms is choosing Vietnam as their potential investment destination.

Italian Vice Ambassador to Vietnam Natalia Sanginiti spoke at the seminar. (Photo: Dai Son/VNF)

Italy, meanwhile, is also a top EU partner of Vietnam in multiple fields from politics and development cooperation to trade and technology, she said.

The diplomat stressed both sides need to enhance trade-investment ties and prioritise a number of joint projects, particularly in the sectors of health and food safety.

Tran Thanh Hai, Vice Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, called on Italy to encourage the EU to soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy status and help the country build capacity in implementing the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Italy posted at USD 4.3 billion in 2015 and USD 3.09 billion in first eight months of 2016.

Tran Thanh Hai, Vice Director of the Import-Export Department (M) said he hoped Italy will assist Vietnam in manufacturing, farming and climate change adaptation. (Photo: Dai Son/VNF)

He said Vietnam and Italy should improve their cooperation in high-tech and support industries, noting that Italy, with its more advanced technologies, can help develop manufacturing, farming and climate change adaptation in Vietnam.

Both governments should devise policies to promote Italian investments in Vietnam, particularly in infrastructure, garment, footwear, support industry, energy and tourism, he said.

On this occasion, VIFA also held a ceremony in celebration of its 30^th founding anniversary.

At the event, VIFA has been received the certificates of merit from the Vietnamese Foreign Minister for their dedicated to development of Vietnam-Italy relations./.

Minh Phuong