The secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Nguyen Van Nen, hosted a reception on Tuesday morning for newly-appointed Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Della Seta, who is on a working trip to the southern metropolis.

The municipal Party leader spoke highly of the Italian diplomat’s visit, which takes place at a time when Vietnam and Italy are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Over the past five decades, the world has experienced uncertainties but the Vietnam-Italy friendship has reaped fruitful results, Nen said.

He cited an Italian vessel which docked in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam to donate necessities to the Vietnamese people in 1973 as an example of the genuine friendship between the two nations.

The Vietnamese people will never forget the noble gestures of the Italian people during that hardship, Nen elaborated and expressed his pleasure over the two countries’ expanded cooperation in multiple fields.

He added that Ho Chi Minh City had established partnership with some Italian localities, but there is much room for both sides to deepen their ties in the years ahead.

The municipal Party chief also congratulated the Italian diplomat on his new position, saying that the ambassador will help facilitate investment by Italian firms into Vietnam in trade, culture, and science.

The Italian ambassador underlined the importance of this working visit, as he was appointed to his post in Vietnam just last month and this is his first trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

Echoing Nen’s viewpoint, Seta said that the vessel carrying necessities to Vietnam in 1973 along with the Italian Navy’s patrol vessel ITS Francesco Morosini, which made a port call in Ho Chi Minh City in May this year, showed Italy’s interest in Vietnam.

The EU nation considered Ho Chi Minh City as an important investment destination which shares many things in common with Milan City, as both cities focus on industrial development.

Italy and the southern Vietnamese city could expand their cooperation in culture and education, aside from trade and economic sectors, Seta said.

With a wealth of experience in preservation of heritage, Italy is willing to share its experience with Ho Chi Minh City, the Italian ambassador noted, adding that both sides could set up partnership in this field.

Early next month, a delegation from Lombardy, northern Italy will visit Ho Chi Minh City.

The trip is expected to bring about cooperation opportunities for both sides, he said.

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Two Royal New Zealand Navy ships, with over 300 officers and sailors aboard, arrived at Saigon Port on Sunday, marking the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand.

The port call, scheduled for September 24-28, will further develop the close and friendly relationship between the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Activities planned over the five days include personnel exchanges between the two navies, friendly sporting events, and combined community service activities.

“The crews of HMNZS Te Mana and HMNZS Aotearoa are excited to be visiting Vietnam. They are eager to learn about the Vietnamese people and culture and to share a bit of ‘Kiwi’ culture as well,” said New Zealand Joint Forces Commander, Rear Admiral James Gilmore.

“The ship visit is a demonstration of the close relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam. We are committed to our defense engagement with Vietnam and believe that growing and expanding our relationship contributes to the maintenance of a secure region.”

The port call follows the recent successful visit of Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defense, to New Zealand in July and precedes bilateral defense talks scheduled for early 2024 in New Zealand.

The HMNZS Te Mana is the Royal New Zealand Navy’s second ‘Anzac Class’ frigate.

The HMNZS Aotearoa is a ‘Polar Class’ 26,000-ton tanker and replenishment ship, the largest the Royal New Zealand Navy has ever operated.

Over 300 officers and crew members are on board the two ships, which are designed for combat operations, humanitarian and relief functions, and operational and training support.

The two ships are conducting routine exercises in Southeast Asia in what is the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF)’s largest naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as making a number of ‘Defense Diplomacy’ visits, including to Vietnam.

This is the first time two Royal New Zealand Navy ships have visited Vietnam together.

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A high-level delegation led by President of the National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez paid a visit to the Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Hospital in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam on Monday afternoon, as part of his ongoing trip to the Southeast Asian country. 

The president said that the hospital is a permanent symbol of the friendship and solidarity between the two nations. 

The top Cuban legislator arrived in Hanoi on Sunday to start his five-day Vietnam visit at the invitation of the Vietnamese Party and state leaders.

The hospital is a gift from late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Cuba to Quang Binh Province to help treat locals.

The top Cuban representative’s visit to the hospital was aimed at reminding the young generation of the history and close ties, while encouraging them to deepen the friendship and solidarity between the two nations.

During his trip, he also engaged in a brief talk with people who met late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

In September 1973, Fidel Castro decided to present Quang Binh Province with a fully-equipped hospital during his visit to the newly-liberated Quang Tri and Quang Binh Provinces.

Work on the hospital started on May 19, 1974.

The Vietnam – Cuba friendship hospital, with 462 beds and 26 departments, was put into service on September 9, 1981.

The hospital was assessed as one of the most modern hospitals in Vietnam at that time.

In 2018, seven Cuban experts were invited to work at the hospital. Among them, four completed their mission, while the other three are still serving at the medical facility.

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