Ambassador Cao Chinh Thien lauded efforts made by the 10 honoured individuals in boosting the two nations’ multifaceted cooperation, saying he believes in their future companionship. 

Representing the honoured, Sergio Bertorello, a member of the Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association’s executive committee, expressed his thankfulness to the Vietnamese State. He pledged to continue contributing to the bilateral ties. 

Despite global economic setbacks, Italy’s trade with Vietnam rose 15 percent last year, making the country its fourth-largest EU trading partner. The countries’ two-way trade hit US$4 billion in 2014, a 17% increase from 2013.