Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Võ Văn Thưởng (R) receives CPI General Secretary Mauro Alboresi in Hà Nội. —VNS/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

HÀ NỘI – The communist parties of Việt Nam and Italy (CPV and CPI) on Wednesday expressed a mutual desire to strengthen their relationship towards furthering bilateral relations between the two countries.

The common aspiration was expressed in talks held in Hà Nội between Võ Văn Thưởng, Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, and CPI General Secretary Mauro Alboresi.

Thưởng said the CPV was determined to build a strong and transparent Party and consistently implement the policy of extending ties with major political parties worldwide. 
Alboresi said Việt Nam’s achievements over the past three decades were a source of great inspiration for Italian communists and progressive forces fighting for a better world and ideals of communism. 
He said the CPI will work to reinforce friendship and co-operation between the two Parties, countries and peoples in the future.

He also said that CPI backs Việt Nam’s stance on the settlement of disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to maintaining peace, stability and security in the region. 
Earlier, the CPI leader held talks with head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoàng Bình Quân, during which both sides discussed several regional and global issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.

They also agreed on measures to promote ties between the two Parties for the sake of enhancing bilateral strategic partnership. 
During their stay, Alboresi and his entourage paid tributes to President Hồ Chí Minh at his mausoleum, held working sessions with leaders of the Central Ideology Council, the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics, the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences and the Việt Nam-Italy Friendship Association.

They also went on a fact-finding trip to the northern province of Hà Giang.—VNS