The Italian Minister of Defence in Vietnam

A high-ranking delegation from the Italian Ministry of Defence led by its Minister Giampaolo di Paola, arrived Thursday morning in Hanoi for official goodwill visit to Vietnam at the invitation of the latter's counterpart, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh. This is the first visit to Vietnam by the Italian Minister of Defense since the establishment of relations of defense between the two countries. Thursday afternoon, Phung Quang Thanh General and Giampaolo di Paola met, then met the press to announce the results of their meeting. The visit to Vietnam by the Italian Minister of Defence occurs before the visit to Italy of the Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, and while the two countries are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, moving toward the signing of a deed of cooperation to take their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership, said the Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh. Both parties discussed issues openly in South-East and East Sea before considering measures to intensify bilateral cooperation, including by exchanging more delegations from all levels, organizing training of human resources for the People's Army of Vietnam, and developing specific cooperation in the defense industry ... A memorandum on bilateral cooperation in the defense will be signed soon help maintain an environment of peace, stability and development cooperation in South-East Asia and in the world. The Italian Minister of Defence expressed the wish on this occasion to see both countries diversify their cooperatio


n in various sectors, including defense in particular, hoped that before the next visit to Italy VCP General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will help bring a new level of bilateral relations. By meeting the press, the Italian Minister of Defense Giampaolo di Paola announced that bilateral cooperation in training has progressed, especially among young officers. Italy is ready to host Vietnamese officers wishing to attend a course, he concluded