(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 10 - Italy and Japan are to forge a strategic partnership, Premier Giorgia Meloni said after talks in Rome Tuesday with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
    Saying that ties between the two countries would be raised to that new level, Meloni hailed the already high level of bilateral trade, at 12 billion euros.
    "We had a long talk starting from the excellent bilateral relations that exist between Italy and Japan, which have trade of 12 billion euros a year," said the Italian premier.
    "I recall the launch on 9 December together with the United United Kingdom of a programme aimed at developing a sixth generation vehicle on civil sectors and scientific research.
    "We agreed to elevate our relationship to the status of strategic partnership, a significant step and a strengthening of our contacts with the opening of new opportunities".
    Meloni went on: "In addition to ensuring full support to Ukraine, we want to work with the Japanese presidency (of the G7) on certain priorities proposed by Japan, such as the protection of the rules-based international order, strengthening economic security, protecting supply chains and upping the fight against climate change.
    "These are all challenges on which there is a lot of work to be done, we will deepen these issues related to international politics, starting with the consequences of the war in Ukraine".
    (ANSA).