Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung holds talks with the Prime Minister of Italy.

The two Prime Ministers briefed each other on the situation in their respective countries and agreed to exchange views on directions and measures to strengthen and promote bilateral relations between Vietnam and Italy in a practical and effective manner.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the official welcoming ceremony. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

At the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Republic of Italy Matteo Renzi paid an official visit to Vietnam from June 9-10.

On the afternoon of June 9th, the two Prime Ministers held talks.

A new development in the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung warmly welcomed Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on his official visit to Vietnam. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly appreciated the significance of this first visit by an Italian Prime Minister to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973, marking a new stage in the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Italy.

The two sides informed each other about the situation in their respective countries and agreed to exchange views on directions and measures to strengthen and promote bilateral relations in a practical and effective manner.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed that, with its consistent policy of pursuing an independent, self-reliant, multilateral, and diversified foreign policy, and actively and proactively integrating into the international and regional arenas, Vietnam always values ​​Italy's role and position in Europe and the world, and wishes to develop Vietnam-Italy relations in depth and effectiveness in the spirit of the Joint Declaration on establishing a Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi sincerely thanked Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the Vietnamese side for the warm and cordial welcome extended to the delegation; highly appreciated Vietnam's great achievements in all aspects of development; and affirmed that Italy always values ​​and wishes to promote the strategic partnership with Vietnam, a country with an important role in Southeast Asia and within ASEAN.

Regarding bilateral relations, both sides agreed that political, diplomatic, and economic, cultural, educational, and scientific-technological cooperation between the two countries has developed positively in recent years, especially with the official upgrading of relations to a Strategic Partnership during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's state visit to Italy in January 2013; affirming that both sides will work together to develop this good relationship in proportion to the potential and aspirations of both sides.

Increase bilateral trade turnover to 5 billion USD.

In that spirit, both sides agreed to continue strengthening exchanges of delegations at all levels; they agreed to strive to increase bilateral trade turnover, currently at 3.5 billion USD, to over 5 billion USD in the next two years, creating conditions for businesses of both countries to connect with partners and strengthen economic cooperation in many fields, especially in areas where Italy has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as: mechanical engineering, textiles, footwear, wood processing, supporting industries, construction materials, energy, food processing, etc.

Both sides highly appreciated the results of the implementation of cooperation and development projects in the past period and agreed to continue discussions to soon approve the next phase of the cooperation and development plan; agreed to strengthen cooperation in culture, education and training, science and technology; promote initiatives to establish cooperation mechanisms between universities and establish an Italy-Vietnam Center for Research and Training of Excellence.

Both sides also agreed to maintain and implement consultation mechanisms between the Ministries and agencies of the two countries in each area of ​​cooperation, such as the Strategic Dialogue at the Deputy Foreign Minister level; the Strategic Dialogue at the Deputy Defense Minister level; and agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation and hold its first meeting in November 2014.

In a spirit of mutual understanding, frankness, and trust, the two sides exchanged views on many international and regional issues of common concern; affirming their commitment to continued cooperation and close coordination in multilateral forums and international organizations, especially within the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN-EU, and ASEM.

As the Coordinator of ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam affirmed its support for Italy strengthening its relations with ASEAN; Italy supported Vietnam in developing comprehensive relations with the EU, including promoting the early ratification of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) by the EU, and supporting Vietnam's early recognition of full market economy status by the EU at the same time as the conclusion of negotiations on the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Italian businesses are genuinely interested in the Vietnamese market.

Affirming the importance of relations with Vietnam, the Italian Prime Minister emphasized that at this time, Italy is looking towards Vietnam with great interest. The opening of the Italian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is a concrete effort to further deepen the bilateral strategic partnership.

Highly appreciating Vietnam's dynamic development, including maintaining high growth rates amidst a global economic downturn and controlling inflation, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi emphasized Italy's appreciation for Vietnam's role as a bridge in cooperation between ASEAN and the EU. He also praised economic cooperation with Vietnam and stated that Italy has included Vietnam in its list of top 10 emerging markets for trade and investment. As the rotating President of the EU for the last six months of 2014, Italy will further promote relations between the EU and Vietnam.

The Italian Prime Minister stated that both sides need to make efforts to strengthen economic, trade, and investment cooperation. Acknowledging that Italian investment in Vietnam is quite modest, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said that Italian businesses are showing genuine interest in the Vietnamese market, including in infrastructure development. He also agreed with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$5 billion within the next two years. Italy also committed to continuing ODA funding for Vietnam and agreed to sign an agreement with Vietnam on this matter.

In addition, the Italian Prime Minister also agreed with the six areas of cooperation proposed by Vietnam: cooperation in politics and diplomacy; cooperation in international forums; cooperation in economics, trade and investment; cooperation in culture and tourism; cooperation in education, training and science and technology; and cooperation in security and defense.

Vietnam-Italy talks. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

We support resolving the South China Sea issue through peaceful means.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung informed Prime Minister Matteo Renzi about China's illegal placement of the Haiyang 981 oil rig deep within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, its use of military vessels and escort aircraft, and its deliberate ramming and damage to nearly 30 Vietnamese law enforcement vessels, resulting in numerous injuries.

This action by China has seriously violated Vietnam's sovereignty, gravely breached international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC); and seriously threatened peace and stability in the region. In response to this serious incident, Vietnam has expressed goodwill and conducted more than 30 diplomatic exchanges with China to demand the immediate withdrawal of the oil rig. Vietnam has persistently and resolutely fought to protect its sovereignty through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, and including legal measures.

Appreciating Italy's role in efforts to maintain peace in the region and the world, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested Italy to have a strong voice and support Vietnam's just stance.

For his part, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi emphasized that Italy's position is the same as that expressed in the recent EU and G7 statement, which expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the South China Sea; opposed any party unilaterally seeking to assert sovereignty through threats, coercion, or force; and called on all parties to abide by international law in resolving sovereignty disputes.

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi emphasized that the fundamental basis for resolving the issue in the South China Sea must be based on international law.

According to Chinhphu.vn