Vietnam boosts defence ties with Italy Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh (L) and Italian Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola   A delegation from the Defence Ministry led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh had a working visit to Italy from October 24-26. During their stay, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to Italian Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola, who affirmed that Italy wants to strengthen defence co-operation with Vietnam for the benefit of each country’s people as well as for peace and stability in the regions and the world. The delegation held talks with Italian Defence General Secretary Claudio Debertolis and Deputy Minister Filippo Milone, discussing measures to further bilateral defence ties with a view to building a relation of co-operation and development on the basis of mutual respect. They affirmed their wish to seek a common voice on major regional and international defence issues such as peace, war, maritime security and terrorism prevention. The two sides agreed to seek specific areas for co-operation such as defence industry, training, the exchange of officers and delegations, co-operation between research institutes, peacekeeping, and bomb and mine clearance. They also agreed to actively prepare for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation at the earliest point of time. Vinh noted with pleasure that the two countries’ defence ties have seen encouraging developments over the recent past and fine prospects in the future. The Vietnamese Defence Ministry wants to foster ties with the Italian side, especially in strengthening mutual support in international relations regarding security and peace issues and the abiding by international law in the conduct of countries, he noted. (VNA)