At the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Van Hong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho city, briefed Mr. Enrico Padula, Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh, on the socio-economic situation and existing strengths of Can Tho city. He also said that the city is strong in services and agriculture, including rice, fisheries, fruits and animal husbandry.

In addition, Can Tho city is making the best use of advantages regulated in the National Assembly’s Resolution No.45/2022/QH15 on piloting several specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Can Tho city; thereby maximizing the potential and strengths of Can Tho and helping the city develop strongly in the coming time, he said.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Hong said that 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Italy. Therefore, he hoped that Can Tho and Italy would coordinate to organize meaningful commemorative activities in Can Tho City. This is also an opportunity to introduce and promote Italian cultural values to the people of Can Tho.

Besides, Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Hong also wished that in his position, the Italian Consul General would step up the signing of cooperation agreements between Can Tho and Italian localities, as well as popularize the city’s investment environment to Italian investors, particularly in hi-tech agriculture, manufacturing, and processing, transport, logistics, finance-banking, and apparel through seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, field trips, etc.

With Italy’s strengths in museums and movies, he hoped that the Italian Consulate General would partner with Can Tho to hold screenings of Italian films, photo exhibitions, and concerts while assisting the city in preserving museums and upholding cultural heritage values.

On this occasion, Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Hong invited Consul General Enrico Padula and Italian businesses in Vietnam to participate in the Vietnam International Agriculture Fair taking place in November 2022 in Can Tho city. He also hoped that the two sides will strengthen information exchange and sharing in many fields, serving as a foundation to promote the implementation of substantive cooperative activities, contributing to deepening the partnership between Can Tho city and Italy.

Mr. Enrico Padula, Italian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh, agreed with Can Tho’s proposals and highly appreciated Can Tho city in COVID-19 prevention and control as well as socio-economic recovery after the pandemic. Italian Consul General Enrico Padula said that the 50th Anniversary of Vietnam-Italy Diplomatic Ties was an important milestone, marking the deep and close cooperation between the two countries. He vowed to hold economic and cultural activities linking the two countries’ localities together on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.