President Vo Van Thuong and his wife pay an official visit to Austria (Photo: VOV)

President Vo Van Thuong’s trip is vivid evidence of Vietnam’s external policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, and consistency in respecting and enhancing its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Austria, strategic partnership with Italy, and relationship with the Vatican. 

A fruitful trip

During the visit, President Thuong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation performed 50 activities, gaining success in various fields.

In Austria, President Thuong and Austrian leaders agreed on ways to effectively implement bilateral agreements, especially in innovation, energy transition, and culture, creating new momentum to boost bilateral ties in the coming time. Both sides pledged to work closely and support each other at regional and global forums, further promote the image of the two countries, and boost bilateral tourism cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and mutual understanding.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said: "With Austria, we showed our determination to constantly foster and strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted and mutual trust on the basis of 50 years of bilateral diplomatic ties. The two sides agreed to effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. Austria pledged to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, and urge the EC to remove the IUU fishing yellow card imposed on Vietnam’s fishery exports to Europe."

President Vo Van Thuong and his wife pay a State visit to Italy (Photo: VOV)

Italian leaders affirmed that Vietnam is Italy’s important partner in Southeast Asia. They agreed to strengthen exchanges of delegations between the Parties, States, governments, and parliaments of the two countries. The two sides issued a joint statement on strengthening the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership, mapping out major orientations and measures to deepen bilateral cooperation. They agreed to work closely at regional and global forums and in settling global issues. Italy ratified the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement during President Thuong’s visit, creating conditions for both sides to enhance bilateral cooperation in the digital economy, high technology, green development, and smart agriculture.

President Thuong said: "The Italian Parliament's ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement during the Vietnamese President’s state visit to Italy is great news. The ratification will benefit businesses and people of the two countries, significantly contributing to further promoting bilateral trade and investment cooperation in the coming time."

President Vo Van Thuong meets Pope Francis (Photo: VOV)

Marking a milestone in the Vietnam-Vatican relationship 

During his visit to the Vatican, President Vo Van Thuong met Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican. The two sides issued a joint communique on the conclusion of the Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative of the Vatican in Vietnam. The agreement, which is the result of long, active exchanges between the two sides on the basis of mutual respect and mutual understanding, marks a new milestone in the Vietnam-Vatican relationship.

Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, said: "The State President’s visit meets the demand of both sides and the aspiration of the Vietnam Catholic Church and Vietnamese Catholic followers, promotes trust in Vietnam’s Party and State policies on religious affairs, enhances Vietnamese Catholic followers’ connection with the homeland, and influences other religions. The visit contributes to strengthening the national unity bloc." 

During his meetings with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Austria and Italy, President Thuong urged them to uphold the national unity spirit, maintain national cultural identity, actively integrate into the world, affirm their position in the resident country, and serve as a bridge of friendship between Vietnam and other countries.