President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday welcomed at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella.

The president of the Italian Republic is currently paying an official visit to Bucharest, at the invitation extended by the head of the Romanian state.

Sergio Mattarella was welcomed with military honours on the official plateau at the Cotroceni Palace.

After the official ceremony, the two heads of state will have a one-to-one meeting and also official talks, at the end of which they will hold a joint press conference.

The official visit of the Italian president continues the dialogue between the two countries, at the highest level, marked by the historic moment of the visit that president Iohannis paid to the Italian Republic in 2018, which was the first of a Romanian head of state after 45 years, and also following the third joint Romanian-Italian governmental meeting that took place in Rome on February 14-15, 2024, informed the Presidential Administration on Tuesday.

Also, in 2024, Romania and Italy celebrate 145 years since establishing diplomatic relations, and 60 years since enhancing dialogue at embassy level, which are significant milestones along the increasingly rich path of the bilateral dialogue.

The two presidents will also approach aspects related to the current European and global developments, with a special focus on the Strategic Agenda of the EU and security situation, informs the same source.

The high Italian official will also have meetings with the president of the Senate, Nicolae Ciuca, and prime minister Marcel Ciolacu.

AGERPRES