State President begins working trip to Italy, Vatican
VOV.VN - A high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by State President Vo Van Thuong arrived at Fiumicino International Airport in Rome, beginning a working trip to Italy and the Vatican at the invitations of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis.
Thuong and his entourage were welcomed at the airport by Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro, Head of Protocol at the Holy See's Secretariat of State Most Reverend Monsignor Joseph Murphy, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung, and other officials of the Italian government and the Holy See.
Thuong’s working visit to Italy is taking place at a time when Vietnam and Italy are celebrating 50 years of their diplomatic ties and 10 years of their strategic partnership this year.
During the visit, Thuong is scheduled to hold talks with Mattarella, meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and witness the signing of cooperation documents between the two countries.
He will also meet with President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana and Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, and attend a concert to mark 50 years of Vietnam – Italy diplomacy, among other activities.
In the Vatican, Thuong is scheduled to meet Pope Francis and Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.