Hanoi (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong’sofficial visit to Austria from July 23-25, and State visit to Italy and visitto the Vatican from July 25-29 have been successful in all aspects, ForeignMinister Bui Thanh Son told the press.

The visits were made at the invitation of President ofAustria Alexander Van der Bellen, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and PopeFrancis.

This is the first visit to Austria by a VietnamesePresident over the past 15 years, and the first delegation exchange at thehead-of-state level with Italy and the Vatican in seven years, according to theminister.

Taking place in the context of rapid, complicateddevelopments of the regional and international situation, the visits vividlydemonstrate the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, anddiversification and multilateralisation of relations adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, as well as Vietnan’s consistent policy of treasuringthe traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Austria, the strategicpartnership with Italy, and the relations with the Vatican, he continued.

Son stressed that the visits have contributed tocreating new momentum for the bilateral ties with Austria and Italy in allfields, from politics-diplomacy to trade-investment, development cooperation,education-training, science-technology, national defence and security, andculture.

He described the visits as very important highlights in the context of Vietnam and Austria turning a new page in their relationship with the 50th anniversary of their diplomaticties last year, and Vietnam and Italy celebrating the 50th anniversaryof their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of theirstrategic partnership this year.    

Regarding specific outcomes of the visits, theminister said the President and his entourage engaged in about 50 activities invarious fields, which have been covered widely by both local and international media.

Austrian and Italian leaders regarded Vietnam as aleading important partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN), and noted their wish that Vietnam will work as a bridge between theEuropean Union (EU) and the ten-member grouping.

With Austria, Vietnam affirmed a resolve toconstantly cultivate and promote the traditional friendship and multi-facetedcooperation in general, and the high political trust between high-rankingleaders of the two countries in particular.

The two sides agreed on measures to continueimplementing bilateral agreements, especially those on innovation, energytransition and culture, and to coordinate in materialising the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA).

The Austrian side said it will soon ratify theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and urge the EU to soonremove the “yellow” card warning on Vietnamese seafood.

Austria also pledged to continue its close coordinationwith Vietnam and mutual support at regional and international forums, promote theimage of land and people of the two countries, and enhance tourism cooperation,people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding.

Meanwhile, Italian leaders agreed to increase high-rankingdelegation exchanges via Party, State, Government and National Assemblychannels, the FM said, stressing that the two sides issued a joint statement onstrengthening the bilateral strategic partnership, and set forth majororientations and specific measures to advance their relations in a moreintensive and effective fashion, particularly in politics, economy-trade,national defence and security, education-training, science-technology, culture,tourism and people-to-people exchange.

The two sides concurred to work together at regionaland international forums and in addressing global issues like climate change, energysecurity and food, especially in the context of both nations joining the JustEnergy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Notably, Son said, the Italian Parliament ratified theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) at the same time withPresident Thuong’s visit, which is expected to help boost cooperation in suchpotential areas as digital economy, high-tech, green development and smartagriculture.
 
In the Vatican, it is noteworthy that the two sides concluded the “Agreementon the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of theResident Papal Representative in Vietnam”, marking a significant development stepin their relations, the official said.

Both Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolinexpressed their impressions of the positive, diverse development of the beliefand religious life in Vietnam, including Catholicism, and shared the view thatthe Vietnam Catholic Church should better fulfill the vocation of “accompanyingthe nation” and to be “good Catholics and good citizens,” and that Catholic dignitariesand followers in the country should make more contributions to the developmentof the nation and the church.  

On this occasion, President Thuong also met with representativesof the Vietnamese communities in Austria, Italy and Europe, Son said./.