Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia opens the conference. Photo: VNA

Vietnamese and Italian experts and scholars gathered at an international conference in Rome on April 18 to spotlight the significance of the time that President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in Italy in the 1930s, VNA reported.

The event was attended by Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia, and leaders from a number of ministries that are joining the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation visiting Italy.

It also drew leaders of the Italian Communist Party, Communist Refoundation Party of Italy, the Democratic Party of Italy, Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association, Vietnamese Honorary Consuls in Turin and Nopoli, and many Italian friends.

Participants at the conference. Photo: VNA

Nghia highlighted the significance of the conference in maintaining and promoting heritage left by President Ho Chi Minh, especially in fostering the relations between Vietnam and other countries, including Italy, as the two sides are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties and the 10 years of strategic partnership

He thanked the Italian side for supporting activities to honour the Vietnamese leader in different localities of Italy.

General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party Mauro Alboresi affirmed that President Ho Chi Minh was a great national leader, and Vietnam is a symbol of struggle against colonialism and imperialism, for independence, freedom, determination and self-reliance determination of all nations.

The Italian Communist Party always pays great attention to and follow the developments of Vietnam, and supports the CPV’s socio-economic development and foreign policy, he said.

General Secretary of the Communist Refoundation Party of Italy Maurizio Acerbo recalled the sentiments of the left-wing forces of Italy towards Vietnamese people and nation, affirming that President Ho Chi Minh is remembered as one of the greatest revolutionaries in the history, and a symbol of the struggle against colonialism, showing the world the highest values of socialism.

Participants at the conference.

Stefano Bonilauri, Director of nteo Edizioni publishing house, said that in May 1959, President Ho Chi Minh received journalists of L'Unità newspaper at his residence, demonstrating the media's interest in Italy for Vietnamese events.

“Fifty years after Italy and Vietnam established diplomatic relations, we believe it is essential to preserve the historical memory of President Ho Chi Minh's example and the great sacrifices of the Vietnamese people for the freedom of the Fatherland. The struggle of the Vietnamese people and the enlightened thinking of the leader must be an example for young generations around the world to follow," he stressed.

“For this reason, Anteo Edizioni, also thanks to the valuable cooperation of Honourary Consul of Vietnam in Turin Sandra Scagliotti, we have published 'Letters for Peace in Vietnam', a collection of Letter from President Ho Chi Minh and the 'Duong Kach Menh' (Revolutionary Path),” said Stefano Bonilauri.

Sandra Scagliotti, honorary consul of Vietnam, president of the Center for Vietnamese Studies and pictures of President Ho Chi Minh in Italy.

Honorary Consul and Director of the Centre for Vietnam Studies in Turin Sandra Scagliotti said that the time President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in Italy was a treasure that needed to be further studied and documented.

Last week, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy also organised activities in the Umbria region within the framework of the Vietnam-Italy Year 2023, after the launching ceremony of the year took place in Rome on March 31.

Among the activities were the meetings between Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung and leaders of the regional and local governments, seminars and talks on the potential for economic cooperation between Vietnam and Umbria, the photograph exhibition "Vietnam Country and People", the screening of Vietnamese films, and a food festival.

In particular, the embassy collaborated with the Rotary Club of Perugia Trasimeno to organise a photograph exhibition introducing the country and people of Vietnam in Perugia city.

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