Deputy Foreign Minister Bruno Archi is visiting Vietnam on 22 and 23 July, the first Asian country on his tour of the region. This choice reflects the Italian Government’s growing interest in relations with Hanoi and marks a concrete step in opening a new era of Italian-Vietnamese relations. The Deputy Minister’s mission to Vietnam is the first high-level visit since the Joint Declaration setting up the Strategic Partnership between the two countries was signed. The signing took place on 21 January 2013 in Rome, during the state visit by the Secretary General of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nguyen Phu Trong.
Yesterday, Archi met his Vietnamese counterpart, Son; Foreign Minister Minh; and the Deputy Prime Minister, Hai. During their meeting they finalised the two-year Action Plan envisaged by the Strategic Partnership and examined the many facets of Italian-Vietnamese relations, with the focus on possible forms of economic cooperation. “Vietnam and Italy are two countries linked by an extraordinarily sound relationship of friendship and cooperation”, noted Deputy Minister Archi. “Indeed, Vietnam is our key partner amongst the emerging countries of Southeast Asia”.
Today, 23 July, Archi is visiting the Piaggio factory in Vinh Phuc, on the outskirts of Hanoi, for the opening of the engine-testing centre for scooters made by the company in Vietnam. “Piaggio’s experience in Vietnam shows the country’s potential as a hub for Italian businesses interested in exporting to this part of the world. The Italian Government supports Italian companies in Vietnam and is interested in promoting the extraordinary business opportunities offered by this country”.
