The Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Maria Tripodi, today received the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Le Thi Thu Hang.
At the centre of discussions was the strengthening of economic and trade relations, following the Business Forum held in Hanoi on 4 September – which saw the signing of ten commercial agreements and the participation of over 60 Italian companies and nearly 300 Vietnamese counterparts – and in view of the forthcoming Political Consultations, scheduled to take place in Rome in 2026.
“Our bilateral trade exceeded EUR 6 billion in 2024, and more than 150 Italian companies are currently operating successfully in Vietnam,” stated Undersecretary Tripodi, highlighting the ongoing synergic efforts with national stakeholders to contribute to the country’s sustainable growth through high-value investments and industrial partnerships in key sectors such as renewable energy and infrastructure. Continuing the meeting in the framework of the “Growth Diplomacy” strategy launched by Minister Tajani, Undersecretary Tripodi stressed that the negotiations already concluded and currently under way in the agri-food sector aim to enhance access for Italian products to the Vietnamese market.
Among the topics addressed during the talks was the forthcoming conclusion of a technical agreement on cooperation in the defence industry. “Vietnam is an important partner for our defence and security industry, and leading Italian companies are ready to provide cutting-edge solutions in the context of our growing bilateral cooperation,” Tripodi added. The Undersecretary also discussed cultural cooperation with Deputy Minister Hang, giving fresh impetus to negotiations aimed at the forthcoming opening of Cultural Centres in both countries.
