The “Vietnam and Italy, Space Technology and Applications. Looking Beyond” exhibition was opened in Hanoi, displaying 23 high-definition images of the Earth taken by the Italian satellite system COSMO-SkyMed and processed by Telespazio/e-GEOS, including two remarkable images of Hanoi and the Mekong Delta, together with nine panels by the Vietnam National Space Center illustrating the applications of satellite images in remote sensing and disaster preventions in Vietnam.
The exhibition is one of the events dedicated to Italian National Space Day, celebrated on 16 December to commemorate the launch into orbit of the first Italian satellite in 1964; it also acts as a precursor to celebrations next year for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Italy and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Italy’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Antonio Alessandro, opening the event, noting that scientific cooperation is one of the pillars of the strategic partnership as demonstrated by the establishment of the scientific attaché position at the Embassy, a role currently covered by Professor Marco Abbiati who introduced and coordinated the exhibition.
The Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Prof. Le Truong Giang confirmed that the Vietnamese government has authorised resources up to 2030 for the development of space technology and applications, identifying the important role the success of the programme would play in the promotion of international cooperation. From the early 1990s to today, Italy and Vietnam have carried out over 40 bilateral projects – 11 as part of the current three-year programme – in areas of mutual interest such as agriculture, biotechnology, climate change, industry 4.0, technologically advanced materials and cultural heritage.
