(VOV) - The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) gave a special performance at Rome’s Quirinal Palace on Friday, at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. The event was part of the “Vietnam Year in Italy” and aimed to commemorate 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

After playing the national anthems of the two countries, 33 Vietnamese artists performed excerpts from works by Gioachino Rossini and Beethoven, including a violin solo by Bui Cong Duy. They also staged a traditional Vietnamese folksong "Ly Hoai Nam" composed by Ngo Hoang Quan. Before the concert, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long had a brief meeting with Italian President Napolitano and Prime Minister Enrico Letta, to convey a letter of thanks from Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang to the Italian leader.In the letter, President Sang thanked Italian President Napolitano for his support for Vietnam as well as the time-honored friendship between the two countries in recent years. Meanwhile, at a meeting with Ambassador Long, Prime Minister Letta confirmed that Italy wants to further strengthen ties with Vietnam in all areas, especially in economics, after the two countries established their strategic partnership during a state visit to Italy by Vietnamese Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong early this year.