Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio on Monday began a two-day visit to the US capital, Washington DC, the first visit by a country's top diplomat since the administration of US president Joes Biden took office in January.
"Just landed in Washington, two very intense days ahead," Di Maio tweeted.
Talks with top officials including US counterpart Antony Blinken are on Di Maio's agenday as well as with House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pellosi, National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases director Anthony Fauci and the heads of several key think thanks, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Di Maio is also due to take part in an event to celebrate the 160th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties between Italy and the US, according to the statement.
"I’ll be in Washington DC tomorrow on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations," Di Maio tweeted at the weekend.
"I am honoured to be the first foreign minister to pay an official visit to the new Administration. Meeting @SecBlinken to reaffirm the strong friendship between Italy and US," the tweet added.
