(VOVworld) – Italian President Giorgio Napolitano officially received Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Rome on Monday. Talks were held between the two leaders, who agreed to upgrade the Vietnam-Italy relations to the strategic partnership. They expressed the satisfaction over the development of bilateral ties and signing of the Joint Statement on the establishment of strategic partnership during Mr. Trong's visit. The two leaders also agreed on measures to deepen their relationship in all areas, especially in economics,  trade, investment, politics, education, training, culture and tourism. They shared the view on strengthened cooperation in international forums, including the ASEAN-EU framework. Both sides reached consensus on settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful negotiations, based on the international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 
At a media conference after the talks, President Napolitano said that Italy wants to strengthen ties with Vietnam which plays an important role in Southeast Asia. Party leader Trong expressed his belief that the results of his talks and the signed agreements will help boost bilateral ties for the benefits of the two peoples.

Earlier, Mr. Trong met with the Vietnamese Embassy’s staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Italy on Sunday. He appreciated the active performance of the Vietnamese Embassy and community there which has contributed to strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong spoke at a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy (VNA)

The Party leader underlined the significance of his visits to Western Europe countries and the EU including Italy, which exhibits Vietnam’s status and role in international relations. He discussed with overseas Vietnamese the implementation of the Party Central Committee’s resolution on urgent issues in Party building, and the government’s incentives for overseas Vietnamese to do business and buy houses at home and the elderly to return to Vietnam to reside. Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong says: "I expect that you will continue to promote the tradition of mutual assistance and look toward the homeland to fulfill our tasks. I appreciate the initiative that overseas Vietnamese can get involved in the Embassy’s work. It helps the Embassy to expand its network and every person is an ambassador. My message to you is to remember that wherever we go and whatever we do, we raise high our heads as we are Vietnamese."

This is the first visit by a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Italy. The visit takes place as the two countries are celebrating the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties.