Terrorism poses a threat to the world that requires a "unanimous" response and Europe and Africa must cooperate to fight the scourge, Italy's president Sergio Mattarella said on Thursday.
"Ethnic and religious extremism have become such a widespread challenges that they require truly unanimous responses," Mattarella stated.
He was addressing the annual Africa Day at Italy's foreign ministry in Rome.
"Cooperation between Africa and Italy is an essential commitment," added Mattarella, a view shared by foreign minister Angelino Alfano.
The greatest challenges of our times, from security to refugees and economic migrants "begin in Africa", Alfano told Africa Day 2107.
But the influx migrants to Italy in recent years did not represent a security risk, Alfano stressed.
"Our country has managed to stay safe while showing solidarity," he said.
African officials and diplomats including African Union president Mohamed Cherif Diallo and the ambassador of the Republic of the Congo, Mamadou Kamara Dekamo, were also due to address the event.
