The image of the Australe ship carrying 3,000 tons of necessities of the Italian people to support Vietnam; document about "Vietnam Week" held from January 6-13, 1973, international protest against the war on May 12, 1973 in Milan city.

These are some photos, and documents proving the solidarity and attachment between Vietnam and Italy were displayed at the friendship exchange titled "Half a century of solidarity between the Vietnamese and Italian people: Characters and images" taking place on April 18 in Hanoi.

Visitors at the event. Photo: Tran Hanh

The event was part of activities in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (March 23, 1973 – 2023) and the 10 years of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Fifty years ago, Italy was one of the first European countries to officially recognize the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Since the establishment of official diplomatic relations, the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Italy has developed fruitfully on the foundation of the good friendship between the two peoples with positive and remarkable results made in cooperation.

A symbol of the friendship that the Italian people have for the Vietnamese people is the ship Australe. This was a ship chartered by the Genoa Port Workers Union from the Garibaldi Company, departing from Genoa port on November 17, 1973, and arriving at Hai Phong port after 53 days.

Australe carried 3,000 tons of goods including production machines, agricultural machines, textile machines; classroom equipment and hygiene; bicycles, engines and affection from Italian friends for the Vietnamese people in the fight for national independence.

Peace was the name that was then given to the ship Australe, Genoa, and Hai Phong since then also became sister cities.

Addressing the exchange program, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro affirmed that besides the state-level bilateral relations, people-to-people exchange between the two nations is also important.

The strong and lasting relationship between Vietnam and Italy needs to be further consolidated and developed on the basis of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples, especially the young generation, he said.

According to the diplomat, many exchange activities between the young generation of the two countries are being organised, with a notable example being the Vietnam-Italy student exchange program. Numerous Vietnamese and Italian students are studying at educational institutions in the two nations under the program.

Photos reflecting the activities of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples are displayed at an exhibition held within the framework of the exchange. Photo: VNA

President of Vietnam – Italy Friendship Association Bui Nhat Quang highlighted important contributions made by the friendship associations of both sides to the 50-year diplomatic relations and 10-year strategic partnership.

Renato Darsiè (centre), President of the Italy - Vietnam Friendship Association in the Veneto region. Photo: Mai Anh

In their speeches at the event, representatives from the Italy-Vietnam Friendship Associations in the Veneto and Liguria regions affirmed that the solidarity between Vietnam and Italy has been demonstrated in mutual support.

Glad to see Vietnamese friends again, Renato Darsiè, President of the Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association in the Veneto region, said he and his friends shared an interest in how to strengthen the relationship-friendly exchange between the two countries. The exchange helped the people of Vietnam and Italy look back on the past 50 years of good relations, using that as a driving force to continue developing the two countries' relations to become closer and closer.

Photos reflecting the activities of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples are displayed at an exhibition held within the framework of the exchange.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Duc Thanh, a former Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Italy, affirmed that the spirit of friendship between the two peoples is continuing to be consolidated and developed through the Erasmus student exchange program between the two sides.

“The current young generation has advantages in information technology and languages. They can easily read more books, and search for information to have a deeper understanding of the history of the relationship between the two countries as well as the culture and people of Italy. It is a way to learn about the past to develop together in the future,” he said.

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