Italian Defence Minister welcomed in Hanoi
(VOV) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has voiced his support for Vietnam-Italy cooperation in national defence, considering this a concrete pillar in the future strategic partnership between the two countries.
Receiving Italian Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola in Hanoi on January 10, Dung proposed that both Ministries of Defence increase the exchange of delegations and cooperation in human resource training and shipbuilding.
Both sides need to strengthen cooperation in the areas of their strength, as well as at international forums, said the PM.
For his part, Giampaolo Di Paola stressed that Italy attaches importance to boosting cooperative relations with Vietnam, especially in economics, trade, investment and national defence.
Italy is willing to cooperate with Vietnam in personnel training and shipbuilding for national defence purposes, he said.
Both host and guest underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea, and settling any sea disputes through peaceful means and according to international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the Declaration of Conduct of the Parties (DOC) in the East Sea towards building a common Code of Conduct (COC) in the region.
During talks held earlier the same day, Minister of Defence Phung Quang Thanh and his Italian counterpart Giampaolo Di Paola agreed to increase the exchange of delegations and develop human resources for the Vietnam People’s Army.
They agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding on national defence cooperation between the two countries in the near future.