Pretoria – President Jacob Zuma has congratulated the new Prime Minister of Italy, Enrico Letta, following the formation of a new coalition government on Sunday.
Letta succeeds Prime Minister Mario Monti, under whose leadership Italy carried out difficult but necessary reforms.
“President Zuma wished Prime Minister Letta well in his new position, and reconfirmed his appreciation of the warm and close relations and to further strengthen the special relationship that exist between South Africa and Italy and their people,” said South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) in a statement.
Dirco said promoting a balanced international order respectful of human rights, strengthening the intercultural dialogue and supporting sustainable, fair development were some of the goals the Italy and South Africa shared.
“In these challenging times for the international community, it is more necessary than ever for South Africa and Italy to combine their efforts to achieve them,” the department said.
The South African government said it looked forward to working with the new Italian government in consolidating and strengthening political and economic relations which exist between the two countries.
Letta took the oath of office at a ceremony attended by President Giorgio Napolitano, who was himself recently inaugurated to a second term, and 21 cabinet ministers.
President Zuma said he also looked forward to working closely with Letta and Napolitano as the two countries jointly sought to promote trade, employment creation and continued cooperation on issues of international importance such as Africa and its development, including tackling global challenges. – SAnews.gov.za
