Vietnamese state president concludes Europe visit with positive outcomes
Sunday, July 30, 2023, 21:06 GMT+7
Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse returned to Hanoi on Saturday morning, wrapping up his six-day visits to Austria, Italy, and the Vatican from July 23 to 28 with around 50 activities conducted with positive outcomes.
The visits were made at the invitations of Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, and Pope Francis.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told the press that the visits reaped successful results, adding that they would help promote the relations between Vietnam and Austria, Italy, and the Vatican.
During the visits, President Thuong and his entourage carried out some 50 activities in various fields.
Both Austrian and Italian leaders affirmed that they regarded Vietnam as a leading important partner in ASEAN and hoped that Vietnam would serve as a bridge between ASEAN and the EU, Minister Son said.
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| Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks to the press about the outcomes of State President Vo Van Thuong’s visits to Austria, Italy, and the Vatican from July 23 to 28, 2023. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Regarding Austria, Vietnam has been working to develop the traditional relationship and multi-facet cooperation in general, as well as the high political trust between high-ranking leaders of the two nations in particular, Son remarked.
Both sides agreed on measures to further implement bilateral deals, especially those in the fields of innovation, energy transition, and culture.
The two also agreed to effectively execute the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), with the EU nation saying that it will soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the bloc to remove the 'yellow card' warning on Vietnamese seafood.
The yellow card is a kind of warning issued by the European Commission to countries involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Minister Son noted that the Italian Parliament ratified the EVIPA during President Thuong’s visit to this EU nation.
The ratification of the pact is expected to pave the way for both sides to strengthen their cooperation in some potential areas including digital economy, hi-tech, green development, and smart agriculture.
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| Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnamese officials pose for a group photo with Pope Francis in the Vatican on July 27, 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
During his visit to the Vatican, President Thuong met with Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
Vietnam and the Vatican agreed to conclude the 'Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam,' marking a significant move in the bilateral ties, Minister Son said.
Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church in Vietnam needs to continue better implementing the vocation of ‘accompanying the nation’ and ‘good Catholics are good citizens,' adding that Catholics and dignitaries in this Southeast Asian nation should actively contribute to the development of the country and the Church.
The Vietnamese state leader during the visits also met with representatives of the Vietnamese communities in Austria, Italy and Europe, Minister Son noted.
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