Italy continues to give priority to Vietnam in its cooperation development policy, affirmed Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan De Mistura at a political consultation with his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.

The political consultation is part of Son’s working visit to Italy from Sept. 12-18. Deputy FM Son and his entourage also paid a courtesy visit to Italian FM Giulio Terzi and joined his Italian counterpart Marta Dassu in chairing a round-table talk on strategy and international politics.

The Vietnamese delegation also met with General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) Oliviero Deliberto.

At all the meetings and working sessions, both sides said they are happy at the development of the two countries’ friendship and multifaceted cooperation, particularly in politics-diplomacy, economics, development cooperation, culture and education-training.

Vietnam and Italy agreed to maintain the exchange of high-ranking delegations and close coordination at international and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and within the framework of ASEM, ASEAN-EU.

The two sides were unanimous in the need to beef up cooperation among localities and regions, assist the two countries’ businesses in exploring investment and business opportunities and increase cooperation between the two countries’ universities and research institutes.

Both sides also agreed to work closely together to devise bilateral cooperation programme on for the current period, with focus on water resources management and environment, small and medium sized enterprises and human resources training.

The Italian side affirmed their plans to speed up mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation and continue ODA provision for Vietnam in the 2013-2015 period.

The Vietnamese Deputy FM also held a working session with the Italian Diplomatic Academy (IDA), in which the Italian side said they are eager to cooperate with the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

At a meeting with President of Piaggio Group Roberto Colannino, Deputy FM Son said Piaggio’s successful projects are a symbol of the two countries’ fine relations.

Colannino said Vietnam plays an important role in Piaggio’s strategy in Southeast Asia .

Son is scheduled to attend the inauguration of the Vietnam Office in Tuscany region on Sept. 17.