Foreign minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi his Angolan counterpart Manuel Domingos Augusto pledged to strengthen bilateral ties during talks in Rome on Wednesday, the foreign the ministry said in a statement.
The statement described Angola as a country linked to Italy by "a strong and historic friendship" which was the first western country to recognise the African country's independence.
Moavero underlined Angola's "great importance" for regional stability, and thanked the country for its "precious" efforts to help stabilise the conflict-wracked Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the statement.
Moavero and Augusto confirmed their commitment to "intensify economic relations" between Italy and Angola, whose government has forged policies to attract more foreign investment, especially in infrastructure and the services sector, the statement said.
In this framework, the two minister agreed to rapidly establish a joint economic forum between Angola and Italy, the statement added.
Moavero's meeting with Augusto took place ahead of the Italy-Africa Ministerial Conference being held in Rome at the foreign ministry on Thursday, which over 40 government delegations are to attend.
