Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his hope for more investment from Italy to Vietnam and further cooperation between the two countries in tourism, labor and vocational training, at the meeting with Premier Romano Prodi in Rome on January 25, Vietnam State media reports.
Dung and his entourage arrived in Rome on the 25th for an official visit to the foreign country prior to taking part in the World Economic Forum in Davos from January 26-27.
At their talks, Dung thanked Italy for its support for Vietnam’s WTO entry and asked Italy to back Vietnam’s candidacy for non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-09 term.
Romano Prodi affirmed that Italy attaches great importance to Vietnam’s role and position in the Southeast Asian region and wants Vietnam to be a bridge for Italy to increase its influence in the region.
The Italian Premier held that potential for bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Italy is huge, while emphasizing the need to further enhance economic and trade relations between the two sides.
He also affirmed to encourage big economic corporations of Italy to actively penetrate the Vietnamese market and help Vietnam in small and medium-sized enterprise development projects, cultural heritage preservation, education and training, science and technology, as well as tourism projects.
The host and guest agreed to shortly hold a meeting of the Vietnam-Italy joint committee to discuss measures deepening bilateral relations.
At the meeting the two leaders briefed each other on their countries' situations, exchanged views on bilateral cooperation, and discussed regional and world issues of common concern.
The two way-trade between Vietnam and Italy exceeded US$1 billion for the first time in 2006. Of which, Vietnam’s revenue was US$800 million, mostly from the export of aquatic products, garments and textiles, coffee, and rubber.
Italy ranked 9th among EU member countries and 31st among countries and territories in the world having projects in Vietnam. Italy has poured US$55.9 million into 22 projects in Vietnam’s leather footwear, construction, sanitary ware, water heaters and steel producing industries.
Following the talks, PM Dung and Premier Prodi held a joint press conference to announce its results. Prodi later held a banquet in honor of PM Dung and his entourage.
The same day, the Vietnamese PM received Oliviero Diliberto, Secretary General of the Party of Italian Communists and Elia Valori, Chairman of the Lazio Union of Industrialists.
On January 25 afternoon, PM Dung and his entourage left Rome for Davos to attend the annual World Economic Forum. (The People)
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