Italy’s 72nd National Day marked in Hanoi

The Vietnam-Italy Friendship Association (VIFA) in collaboration with the Hanoi University organised an exchange on May 30 to mark the 72nd anniversary of the National Day of Italy and the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.

At the ceremony on May 30 (Photo:baoquocte.vn)
At the ceremony on May 30 (Photo:baoquocte.vn)

At the event, VIFA President Nguyen Van Nam expressed his delight at the strong growth and robust achievements of Italy in the past over seven decades to become an important member of the European Union (EU) and a proactive member of the UN and many other organisations.

The country has made significant contributions to the regional and global peace, development, and win-win cooperation, he highlighted.

He noted that the Vietnam-Italy cultural exchange centre (or Dante Alighieri centre), since it was established in Vietnam in 2006, has become an incubator for the Italian culture in Vietnam, hoping that training centres like this will promote their roles in enhancing cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two peoples in the coming time.

For her part, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Cecilia Peccioni affirmed that Vietnam has become one of the leading partners of Italy in the Southeast Asian region, across the fields of politics, economy, culture, education and training, and scientific research. Two-way trade hit nearly US$5 billion per year.

The two nations have enjoyed close cooperation in the framework of the multilateral forums, particularly collaboration between the EU and ASEAN, she underlined.

Regarding education and training, the signing of 100 agreements between universities and training centres of both sides is vivid illustration for the huge cooperation prospects in the sector, she said, adding that students will help connect the two peoples and two economies in the future.

Later, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Bui Khac Son presented the medal “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” to the Italian diplomat. Cecilia Peccioni also received a certificate of merit from the Hanoi University for her contributions to the bilateral education and training cooperation.

The exhibition “Vietnam-Italy in my eyes” is organised at the Hanoi University on the occasion.