(VOVworld)- National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung held talks with Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Marina Sereni in Rome on Friday. The two sides agreed that the establishment of a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Italy created new co-operation opportunities for the parliaments of both countries. The two sides also agreed that they would enhance their consultation mechanisms and forge closer bilateral co-operation at multilateral forums like the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). Hung invited Sereni to make an official visit to Vietnam and attend the 132nd IPU General Assembly in Hanoi in March 2015.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung held talks with Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Marina Sereni in Rome

Earlier the same day, in a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, Chairman Hung praised the fine development of bilateral cooperation in all areas and the significance of Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership as well as the Action Plan in the 2013-2014 period on implementing the Joint Statement released in September 2013. Hung expressed the hope that Italy would facilitate the European Parliament's approval of the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). He sought similar support for the EU-Vietnam Free Trade agreement (FTA) so that it can be signed this year. Napolitano said there was great potential to increase co-operation between Vietnam and Italy, and said this should be done in ways that uses well the respective strengths of both nations. The same day, Hung met with Vice President of Italian Senate Valeria Fedeli and received the General Secretary of the Party of Italian Communists Party Cesare Procaccini.