country which has great potential for development, says Prime Minister Silvio
Belusconi.
While receiving President Nguyen Minh Triet in Milan city on December 12, Mr Belusconi said that both countries have opportunities to increase cooperation and support each other, especially between their business communities.
He welcomed Mr Triet’s first State visit to Italy, which he said will help open up a new chapter in relations between the two countries. He said agreements reached during the visit are of great significance to the Italian business community.
Mr Belusconi held that although Italy is the 7th biggest economy in the world, its economic, trade and investment ties with Vietnam remain modest.
He said he
will try his best to strengthen bilateral cooperation in culture, television
broadcasting and sports to further introduce the image of Vietnam and Italy so
as to promote mutual understanding between the two people.
President
Triet thanked the Italian government and people for supporting Vietnam during
the past struggle for national independence and unification, as well as during
the current process of national construction and development.
He informed PM Belusconi on the result of his talks
with President Giorgio Napolitano and confirmed that Italy is Vietnam’s
important partner and that both sides have great potential for expanding
cooperation in various areas such as economics, culture, education, training,
science and technology.
He invited Italy to attend celebrations in 2010 to
mark capital Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary.
PM Belusconi said he will lobby AC Milan football
club to visit Vietnam in 2010 and plan Vietnam visits for Italian businesses to
explore cooperation opportunities in specific areas. He also affirmed that he will prepare for a Vietnam
visit at the invitation of PM Nguyen Tan Dung.
The two leaders witnessed the signing of agreements
on tourism cooperation and development cooperation between the governments of
Vietnam and Italy.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and training and
the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research also signed a
memorandum of understanding on cooperation in scientific research and
education.
Earlier, President Triet and PM Belusconi visited a relic site dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Milan city. The site, located on Pasubio street No. 10, was the place late President Ho Chi Minh used to live and work in 1903 when he came to meet the Communist International’s comrades and Italian friends.
In the evening, President Triet attended an art performance within the Vietnam Day programme in Milan.
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