(VOVworld) - Vietnam-Italy relations have developed well in all fields in recent times, especially after the two countries established a strategic partnership last January. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung made the statement at Thursday’s meeting with the President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso in Rome.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and President of Italian Senate Pietro Grasso.

Chairman Hung proposed that the Italian parliament approve and facilitate the European Parliament’s adoption of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in June, 2012. He also called on Italy to support the EU in concluding Free Trade Agreement negotiations with Vietnam this year. Both host and guest agreed to increase exchange visits and foster cooperation at multilateral forums. They said the two legislative bodies will oversee the implementation of the agreements signed by their governments and ministries, to bring practical benefits to both sides. 

Grasso agreed to enhance cooperation between their legislatures adding that the Italian Senate and Parliament are willing to support the Vietnam National Assembly in improving its capacity and skills by providing technical support and sharing experience in legislation and supervision. Chairman Hung took the opportunity to invite President Grasso to visit Vietnam and attend the 132^nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Hanoi next year.

Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung poses a photo with representatives of overseas Vietnamese community in Italy.

While at a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy and overseas Vietnamese community, Mr. Hung praised contributions of the Vietnamese there to developing bilateral relations and called on them to pay more attention to teaching the Vietnamese language and national cultural traditions to the younger generation. Chairman Hung said: “it’s difficult to uphold and preserve the Vietnamese language because young people will easily forget if they don’t use it every day. But I hope that our overseas Vietnamese will be determined and united to fulfill the task.”

Mr. Hung asked Vietnamese nationals in Italy to be united and abide by Italy’s laws to help strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.