At the meeting, the Prime Minister expressed his expectation that both countries will promote investment and trade for mutual benefit. He thanked for Italian approval of the free trade deal between Vietnam and the EU and called for further support from Italy in education of highly skilled workforce and software industry. 
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Italian Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni
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Hailing the ambassador’s contributions in the past year, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hoped that she will further her efforts to promote the strategic partnership between the two nations. He also asked for Italy’s support for Vietnam in high-quality labour training, especially in software and other sectors of mutual interest.
The Italian Ambassador laid stress on her responsibility to promote effective multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries. Italian leaders have seen Vietnam as an important partner, she said, adding that this was demonstrated through Italian President Sergio Mattarella’s visit to Vietnam as his first destination in Asia in November, 2015.
She noted that along with trade and investment, Italy wants to cooperate with Vietnam in science, education and culture and she will put efforts into connecting Italian enterprises with Vietnamese partners. By the end of 2015, two-way trade was estimated at over 4 billion USD. Vietnam is currently Italy’s largest trade partner in ASEAN. Italian brands like Ariston and Piaggio have been flourishing in the Vietnamese market.
She told the host that Vietnam is Italy’s biggest trade partner in ASEAN and Italy now ranks second in importing Vietnamese goods and fourth in exporting products to Vietnam among European countries. Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni pledged to connect businesses from both sides, saying that Vietnam is Italy's important partner. She said along with trade and investment, her country is keen to cooperate with Vietnam in science, education and culture and she will try her best to connect Italian enterprises with Vietnamese partners.
Both host and guest shared the point of view that cooperation in politics, economics and culture are the three pillars in the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership. They suggested the two nations intensify high-level delegation exchanges, expand connectivity not only at ministerial level but also at local level, and step up collaboration in defence, security, culture, and education and training.
