The General Secretary concludes his state visit to Italy.

On the afternoon of January 22nd (local time), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation departed from Rome, successfully concluding their state visit to the Republic of Italy at the invitation of President Giorgio Napolitano from January 20-22.

President Giorgio Napolitano welcomes General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the official welcoming ceremony on January 21. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

Before leaving Rome, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the Monument to the Fatherland.

During the visit, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh previously attended the Vietnam-Italy Economic Cooperation Forum in Rome. Representatives from the Ministry of Economic Development, the Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, the President of the Federation of Italian Industries, and more than 100 Italian businesses participated in the forum.

During the visit, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with President Giorgio Napolitano; met with Prime Minister Mario Monti; attended the ceremony commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Italy; and received General Secretary of the Re-established Italian Communist Party Paolo Ferrero.

During the visit, the two sides signed a Joint Declaration establishing a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Italy, as well as several cooperation agreements between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to establish a strategic partnership, creating a framework for the comprehensive and long-term development of bilateral relations, especially strengthening extensive cooperation in key areas: political-diplomatic cooperation, development cooperation, economy, culture, education and training, science and technology, defense and security, etc.

Both sides committed to strengthening coordination, sharing views, cooperating, and supporting each other in international and regional forums, especially in important forums such as the United Nations, WTO, ASEM, ASEAN, EU, and on international issues of mutual interest.

On the afternoon of January 22nd (local time), General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation departed from Rome, Italy, for an official visit to the United Kingdom.

According to (VNA) - LT