ROME. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who is on working visit to Italy, met with his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano on Tuesday.

Armenian President noted that he remembers his visit on the occasion of celebrations on the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification with pleasure, presidential press service informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Sargsyan stressed the importance that the start of the Venice exhibition on the 500th anniversary of Armenian book publication is held under the high sponsorship of the Italian President. On this regard Napolitano said that Armenians in Venice had a great role in the development of education and culture.

The sides believe that Sargsyan’s working visit is a good chance to discuss Armenian-Italian relations on the highest level and dwell on new spheres of cooperation. Energy is such a sphere, in particular nuclear energy. Armenian President invited Italian companies to participate in projects implemented in Armenia, including new Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) construction, taking into account Italy’s experience in the sphere.

The two presidents stressed the importance of frequent contacts of the businessmen and holding business forums to develop economic sphere. Napolitano believes that Sargsyan’s meeting with the representatives of the Italian business world will be an impetus to include Italian investments in Armenian economy and to develop mutual economic cooperation.

Sargsyan and Napolitano also spoke on Armenia-EU cooperation, regional issues, including negotiation process of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement.

Sargsyan will afterwards meet with Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno and be present at the exhibition opening ceremony of the Armenian cross-stones in Rome, which has the name “Dvin: Armenia’s capital city between Europe and Asia.”

Later Sargsyan will meet with the President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini and Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Riccardo Migliori.