Hanoi, Rome Sign Statement on Advancing All-Round Ties

Vietnam and Italy have signed a joint statement aimed at advancing their comprehensive ties, signaling a commitment to deepen cooperation across various sectors including economy, culture, and education. Representatives from numerous businesses in Turin and the Piemonte region highlighted Vietnam's emergence as one of Asia's most dynamic markets and a promising gateway for Italian companies seeking to expand their presence in Southeast Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Senator Giulio Terzi described the Italian Senate's ratification of treaties on judicial and legal cooperation in criminal matters as a particularly significant step in the overall relationship between Italy and Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City aims to expand Italian-language education, promote exchanges among students, lecturers, and experts, and continue coordinating cultural, artistic, culinary, fashion, sports, and tourism activities to strengthen people-to-people ties. Domestically, the Vietnam Red Cross Society plans a comprehensive reform for its new term, centering on people, with communities as the foundation, digital transformation and innovation as drivers, and resource mobilization as its primary approach to enhance the quality and efficiency of humanitarian activities. In legislative matters, the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee is reviewing a draft law to amend and supplement provisions in nine military and defence laws, ensuring consistency across Vietnam’s legal framework. This aligns with assessments that Vietnam demonstrates its ability to build consensus, foster cooperation, and maintain balance amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment. Vietnam's top leader warned that administrative restructuring would be hollow if administrative borders continue to shackle development mindset through fragmented, localized decision-making. Professor Zhu Chenming, Honourary Director of the Institute of South and Southeast Asian Studies at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the Vietnamese Party and State leader's decision to outline new strategic directions immediately after the restructuring process reflects a clear understanding of Vietnam’s evolving development needs. Simply completing institutional reorganization could create the misconception that the reform mission has been accomplished, while significant governance and development challenges remain. Furthermore, efforts are underway to strengthen ties with Cambodia, the Philippines, and Russia. The official visit of the President of the Cambodian National Assembly to Vietnam is expected to open a new chapter in the history of relations between the two legislatures. Engagements with the Philippine Navy and advancements in defense cooperation with Russia underscore Vietnam's proactive and responsible role in the region. Vietnam's history is a testament to patriotism, the pursuit of independence, and the aspiration for peace, with the nation now focusing on building national resilience as its fourth strategic shift. The objective is not to eliminate every possible risk but to strengthen the country's ability to adapt and recover when disruptions occur. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA)