Indo-Pacific stability and prosperity, support for Ukraine against Russia's "unjustified" invasion and deepening bilateral ties were the focus of talks in Rome on Tuesday between foreign ministry secretary-general Ettore Sequi and Australia's ambassador to Italy, Margaret Twomey.
During his talks with Twomey, Sequi "expressed satisfaction with the growing high-level contacts between our countries, confirming the high quality of bilateral relations," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The recently inaugurated direct Rome-Perth flight could help further strengthen the commercial and cultural ties between the two countries, the statement noted.
Sequi and Twomey agreed that Italy and Australia both want to strive for the stability and growth of the Indo-Pacific area, "to which Italy is paying increasing attention in the broader framework of the European Union's strategy towards the region," said the statement.
Australia's participation in the last NATO summit on 29-30 June testified to the consolidation of security cooperation, Sequi said, according to the statement.
Sequi "also expressed appreciation for Canberra's commitment to strengthening cooperation with the EU, also in view of the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement," the statement went on.
Sequi and Twomey wrapped up their talks by reaffirming "their unremitting support for Ukraine and their condemnation of the unjustified Russian aggression," the statement concluded.
