Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on July 14 that Italy wanted to strengthen relations with Vietnam.

Berlusconi made his remarks during a Rome reception for Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, who is in Italy on an official visit.

The two leaders said they were pleased to see business activities growing between the two countries and assigned relevant bodies to foster the development.

The Italian PM supported Hung's idea of developing co-operation in education and training, and television to help promote Vietnam’s image in Italy and vice versa.

Hung also met the Italian Minister of Tourism, Michela Brambilla, to discuss measures to promote co-operation in a field seen as economically strategic for both sides.

The visiting deputy PM said Vietnam would like Italians to invest in tourism infrastructure, business-management training - and organising tours between the two countries.

On July 14, Vietnam News Agency General Director Tran Mai Huong and Italian News Agency (ANSA) CEO and General Manager Giuseppe Cerbone signed a co-operation agreement during Hung's visit to Rome.

The two agencies agreed to exchange news, photos, high-level delegations and journalists to increase mutual understanding.

The heads of the two news agencies said the signing would play an active role in promoting bilateral relations between the two countries - and the two agencies.

Huong and Cerbone also discussed the possibility of exchanging multimedia products.

On July 13 in Milan, Deputy PM Hung witnessed the signing of an agreement that enables diplomatic passport holders to travel without visas. Another was signed on debt exchange.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong and Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini also signed a memorandum on Italy 's involvement in activities to celebrate the 1,000th year of Thang Long-Hanoi. (VNA)