Vietnamese and Italian PMs agreed to strengthen exchanges at all levels, promote the Action Program to implement the 2021-2023 Strategic Partnership and cooperation mechanisms, including the early organization of the 4th Political Consultation and the 7th Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation, and prepare for the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership in 2023.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi hold phone talks on April 20. Photo: VOV News.

The two leaders agreed to increase exchanges at all levels, continue to effectively implement the action programme to deploy the strategic partnership for 2021 - 2023, as well as cooperation mechanisms such as the political consultation and the joint committee for economic cooperation, and prepare for the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Italy diplomatic ties and 10 years of their strategic partnership in 2023.

They noted with satisfaction that after nearly two years since the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, bilateral trade had recorded encouraging results. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, it reached US$5.6 billion in 2021, up 20% from the previous year, as VOV News reported.

PM Chinh spoke highly of Italy’s inclusion of Vietnam on its list of priority countries for trade and investment cooperation in the post-2020 period, affirming that Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for Italian businesses to expand investment in the Southeast Asian country.

He called on Italy to soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and urge the EU to remove the “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s seafood products, and recognize Vietnam’s “vaccine passports”, while providing favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural and food products, and seasonal fruits, to enter the Italian market.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi hold phone talks on April 20. Photo: VNA..

Agreeing with his counterpart on the proposals to further deepen the strategic partnership, PM Draghi pledged that the Italian government will push the parliament’s ratification of the EVIPA.

As Vietnam Plus reported, he noted that Italian firms want to continue investing in Vietnam in the fields of renewable energy, infrastructure, water resources management, and innovation.

PM Chinh thanked Italy for its active coordination in dealing with the recent scam facing some cashew nut exporters in Vietnam. In reply, PM Draghi said his country would look into the case and has ordered relevant agencies to prevent the hand-over of cashew nut containers.

Pham took the occasion to express sincere thanks to the Italian Prime Minister, Government, and people for timely sharing over 2.8 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine with Vietnam via the COVAX Facility, as Government News reported.

Pham reiterated the Viet Nam's strong commitments made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) regarding greenhouse gas emissions and converting to a green and circular economy with the aim of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

He suggested Italy, as an important member of the G7 and the EU, help Viet Nam access finance and technology to cope with climate change, and digital transformation, and develop a green economy and renewable energy.

Cashew nut processing for export - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

The Italian PM highly valued Vietnam’s commitments at COP26, noting that his country is ready to assist Vietnam's inequitable energy transition.

The two PMs agreed that their countries will coordinate closely at multilateral forums, including the UN, UNESCO, Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the ASEAN - EU framework.

Besides, they also exchanged views on international and regional issues of shared concern, including the East Sea and the importance of peaceful resolution of disputes on the basis of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

PM Chinh invited his counterpart to pay an official visit to Vietnam in the near future. The Italian leader accepted the invitation with pleasure and also invited PM Chinh to visit his country when possible.

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