Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership ties have progressed positively, with the two sides adopting a Joint Statement on strengthening the partnership in July 2023 and discussing an upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Relations between Vietnam’s National Assembly and the Italian Parliament have been maintained and developed well in recent years. Most recently, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien visited Italy in 2019, while a Vice President of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies visited Vietnam in January 2014.

In economic cooperation, Italy is Vietnam’s third-largest trading partner in the EU and ranks 32nd out of 151 foreign investors in Vietnam. Bilateral trade reached US$7.3 billion in 2025, up 6.2% from 2024.

Italy has about 155 investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of nearly US$520 million, and continues to provide official development assistance (ODA) in healthcare, water supply and drainage, wastewater treatment, and hydropower reservoir operations. Italy ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in July 2023 and is interested in promoting cooperation in areas such as aerospace, artificial intelligence (AI), data and nuclear energy.

In defence and security, the two sides maintain visits, exchanges and a defence policy dialogue mechanism. In science and technology, they have identified five priority areas under the cooperation programme for 2024-2026.

The visit by NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse and the high-level Vietnamese delegation is expected to provide fresh impetus for economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, and support further growth in bilateral trade. Effective use of the EVFTA, along with expanded cooperation in areas such as innovation, processing and manufacturing industries, high technology and renewable energy, will help improve the quality and efficiency of bilateral economic ties.

During the visit, the top Vietnamese legislator is scheduled to hold high-level meetings, including talks with President Sergio Mattarella, meetings with leaders of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate, meetings with the Vietnam-Italy Parliamentary Friendship Group, and attendance at a Vietnam-Italy business forum.

The visit will also be an occasion for both sides to review, assess and further refine legal frameworks, creating favourable conditions for expanding bilateral cooperation and upgrading relations in the future.

Upon arrival, the NA Chairman is also set to meet Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.

NA Chairman’s visit to create new momentum for Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership

Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Della Seta has granted an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) ahead of the upcoming visit to Italy by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam.

Top legislator’s visit expected to create fresh momentum for Vietnam–Italy ties

The upcoming official visit to Italy by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man is expected to inject fresh momentum into the Vietnam–Italy Strategic Partnership, further deepening bilateral ties and opening up new avenues for cooperation, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Phuong Anh.