HÀ NỘI —  Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has highlighted the fruitful development of the Việt Nam-Italy strategic partnership, adding the two sides boast many opportunities and potential to enhance the bilateral relations in the future.

The Government leader stated this during a reception in Hà Nội on Wednesday for Chairman of the Italy-ASEAN Association (IAA) Enrico Letta who is visiting Việt Nam. 

PM Phúc applauded the IAA’s plan to organise the third High-level Dialogue on ASEAN-Italy Economic Relations in Hà Nội in 2019, added that this will be a good chance to further tighten economic ties between Italy and ASEAN member nations, including Việt Nam. 

He promised Việt Nam will welcome and create favourable conditions for the successful organisation of the event. Letta, who is also a former Prime Minister of Italy, said the IAA is holding meetings on the preparations for the dialogue, which is hoped to improve the relationship between the two countries.

This is also an opportunity to foster bilateral co-operation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Italy, and between Italy and Việt Nam, he said. 

The Italian and Vietnamese economies have similarities, Letta said, adding that Việt Nam is the gateway to ASEAN, while Italy is the gateway to Europe.

Therefore, the IAA selected Hà Nội as the venue for this important dialogue on the threshold of 2020, when Việt Nam will takeover as chair of ASEAN, he noted. Italy is seeking to increase its influence in Southeast Asia, and Việt Nam plays an important role in this process, he affirmed.

While congratulating the Vietnamese football team on winning the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018, Letta expressed his hope that the two sides will have opportunities to cooperate in this field in the near future, and that Vietnamese players will have chance to participate in Italian football tournaments.

He also expected the two-way trade to grow strongly, doubling in the coming years, affirming that Italy will continue to support and promote the signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

PM Phúc suggested Italy, the IAA and Letta have strong voice to urge the EU to soon adopt the EVFTA, saying that this will benefit enterprises and people of both sides. He said the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, related ministries, and Hà Nội authorities would cooperate closely and support the organisation of the dialogue, hoping that after the event, Việt Nam-Italy trade will record higher growth. — VNS