Italy thanks Azerbaijan for support in COVID-19 fight

A video conference was held in Italy on the occasion of May 28 - Republic Day.

On behalf of the Italian government, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, Co-Chair of the Azerbaijani-Italian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation Manlio Di Stefano congratulated the Azerbaijani people on the Republic Day.

Stefano called the recent visit of the Azerbaijani President to Italy a historical stage in relations between the two countries, emphasizing that the visit gave a great impetus to an exceptional strategic partnership.

The Under-Secretary of State stressed that Italy has been Azerbaijan's largest trading partner for many years, especially in the energy sector.

"With the launch of the TAP project, this cooperation will further deepen," he added.

According to him, the two countries enjoy extensive cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and exchange experiences in the fields of culture, education, science, and technology.

"Italy declared 2020 as the Year of Azerbaijani Culture, and I hope for the continuation of the events dedicated to the Azerbaijani culture in Italy upon the improvement of the epidemiological situation."

He expressed confidence that such events will further enhance the close friendly relations between the two countries.

Stefano concluded his speech expressing gratitude to the Azerbaijani government, President Ilham Aliyev, and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for the solidarity, assistance, and support to Italy in the challenging epidemiological situation.

The Under-Secretary of State added that Italy is ready to provide all necessary support in the early signing of a new partnership agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union.