External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Italian Prime Minister called on Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on the first day of her official visit to Italy on Monday. Swaraj congratulated the PM, who was recently elected the Head of the Government of Italy on 1 June.

The foreign minister discussed ways to increase, revitalise and deepen the bilateral ties between India and Italy, which is one of the founding members of the European Union.

Both sides agreed to mutually identify new areas of cooperation to boost trade and investment linkages.

The MEA said in a statement that Swaraj talked about the important contributions being made by the Indian diaspora to the Italian economy. The leaders also underlined the need to boost people-to-people cooperation.

Following her meeting with the 53-year-old Conte, the EAM met her Italian counterpart Enzo Moavero Milanesi.

“Reaffirming strong commitment to take our relationship forward! EAM @SushmaSwaraj met with Foreign Minister of Italy Enzo Moavero Milanesi. Leaders reviewed all aspects of our bilateral relationship, and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” tweeted Raveesh Kumar, the official spokesperson of the MEA.

Outlining the reforms undertaken by India to promote ease of doing business and liberalize FDI, Swaraj highlighted the tremendous scope for enhancing bilateral trade and investment in sectors like infrastructure, food processing and renewable energy.

The Ministers agreed to hold the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in India later this year, said the MEA.

They also welcomed Italy’s participation as a partner country at the Tech Summit in India in November 2018 which would boost cooperation in technology and innovation.

Following the meeting, Swaraj left for France – the second of the four European nations she will be touring till 23 June.

In France, Swaraj will review bilateral ties between the European giant and India with French Minister Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. This will be the first visit by a top-level Indian government minister to France since the March visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India.

She will also interact with the Indian community and attend the naming ceremony of the Indian Culture Centre as the chief guest.

Read More: Sushma Swaraj leaves for four-nation Europe tour

Swaraj will then leave for a two-day visit to Luxembourg on 19 and 20 June, which will be the first ever by an Indian External Affairs Minister. The minister will cap off her tour with a three-day visit to Belgium from 20-23 June, where she will be calling on the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani.

The four are among the six nations which formed the European Economic Community, the predecessor to EU, in 1957.