The inauguration of former rebel Gustav Petro as Colombia's new president is "a major step forward" for the South American country, according to Italy's labour minister labour minister Andrea Orlando.
"It was a great pleasure and an honour to attend the inauguration of Colombia's president Gustavo Petro," Orlando wrote on Facebook.
"His election marks a major step forward in the life of a country which has strong cultural and economic ties with Italy," the post continued.
"The very best wishes to President Petro and to his commitment to building a more just country."
Petro succeeds conservative Ivan Duque after beating independent Rodolfo Hernández Suarez in Colombia's presidential election runoff on 19 June.
The former Bogota mayor and guerilla has pledged to unite his polarised country in the fight against inequality and climate change, and to reach peace with rebel groups and crime gangs.
