At 3 am (Hanoi time) on January 26, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Davos, Switzerland to attend the annual World Economic Forum. During his official one-day visit to Italy before visiting Switzerland, Mr Dung met with Italian and Vatican leaders.

Vietnam-Italy relations are brought to a new step of development for the two countries’ mutual benefit, said PM Dung to international reporters in Rome after his talks with Italian Premier Romano Prodi.

During the meeting, the two leaders briefed each other of their countries' situation and exchanged views of bilateral cooperation and discussed regional and world issues of common concern.

PM Dung said he was delighted at the development of friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries.

The development has been manifested through bilateral trade, which surpassed the US$1 billion mark for the first time last year, he said.

In 2006, Vietnam earned about US$800 million from exporting goods to Italy with strong growth seen in key industries such as aquaculture, textiles and garments, coffee and rubber.

Italy ranks ninth among the European Union countries and 31^st among all countries investing in Vietnam. Italy now has poured US$55.9 million in 22 projects in Vietnam's leather footwear, construction, sanitary ware, water heaters and steel producing industries.

PM Dung stressed that given the country's recent entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and deep and wide integration into the international market, Vietnam has attached importance to its partnership with Italy. The PM also expressed hope that Italian enterprises and investors would participate more actively in Vietnam's modernisation and industrialisation.

The PM praised Italy’s support and assistance in developing the local culture, education and training, science and technology. He requested the two countries to further cooperate in labour and vocational training, and in tourism.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, PM Dung thanked Italian people for their valuable support to Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and unification, as well as in the current national renewal process. He also thanked Italy for its support during the country's trade negotiations with the WTO and asked Italy to continue supporting Vietnam in its application for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in the 2008-09 term.

The Italian Premier recalled the fine memories of his visit to Vietnam to attend the fifth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 5). Premier Prodi expressed his admiration for Vietnam's achievements in its renewal process.

Italy highly respects Vietnam's role and position in Southeast Asia, Prodi said, expressing hope that the country will act as a bridge to Italy's further integration in to ASEAN markets.

The Premier also stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations, given the immense potential of both countries.

Italy will encourage its giant economic groups to enter the Vietnamese market and continue to support Vietnam in developing small- and medium-sized enterprises, education and training, science and technology and tourism, as well as protecting the country's cultural heritages.

He affirmed Italy’s agreement with PM Dung's proposal to early convene the joint committee in order to deepen bilateral relations.

Following the talks, PM Dung and Premier Prodi held a joint press conference to announce its results. Prodi later held a banquet in honour of PM Dung and his entourage.

The same day, the Vietnamese PM met with Oliviero Diliberto, Secretary General of the Party of Italian Communists and Elia Valori, Chairman of the Lazio Union of Industrialists.

PM Dung meets Pope, Vatican PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with Pope Benedict XVI and held talks with Vatican Prime Minister Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone on January 25.

It was the Vietnamese PM's first meeting with both leaders, reflecting the goodwill and desire of Vietnam and the Vatican to promote dialogue and mutual understanding.

At the meetings, PM Dung informed the Pope Benedict and Cardinal Bertone of Vietnam's achievements after 20 years of implementing renewal policies aimed at openness and international integration.

PM Dung affirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam always respects democracy and the right to freely practise one's beliefs and religion, which was already written into laws, and has been consistently implementing them to facilitate the advancement of religious groups, considering this as an important element to ensure national unity.

In Vietnam, the Catholic community is a dynamic, God-loving and patriotic community that has made active contributions to national construction and development, PM Dung said.

The Vietnamese Government has always placed importance on its relationship with the Vatican. The two sides have conducted annual meetings to exchange views on the issues concerning the Vietnam Catholic Church and other topics of mutual concern. These meetings have produced positive results to help the two sides gain a better understanding of each other.

The Vietnamese Government has advocated the continuation of direct dialogue with the Vatican based on the agreed principles of mutual respect and non-intervention into each other's internal affairs. 

Vietnam hopes that the Vatican will encourage the Vietnamese Catholic community to closely align itself with the nation and the homeland, serving as a bridge to the development of relations between Vietnam and the Papal State. 

The Pope and Vatican PM expressed their appreciation for Vietnam's policy on religious freedom. 

Cardinal Bertone requested that full diplomatic ties between the Vatican and Vietnam be established as proposed by PM Dung that diplomatic agencies on both sides begin discussing the matter in more detail.

PM Dung thanked Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Bertone for their highly-esteemed welcome, and expressed his belief that with goodwill and determination of both sides, the relationship between Vietnam and the Vatican will continue to grow in line with the two sides' wish.