Italian diplomat urges joint action with Prague

(AGI) Prague, Oct 14 - Meetings were held during a visit toPrague between Michele Valensise, Secretary General of theFarnesina, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, andofficials of the Czech Republic. The visit was held before thesummit of the Group of Visegrad, which Italy's Foreign Ministeris to attend in mid November. Mr Valensise met Jakub Kulhanek,vice minister for political affairs, and Ivo Sramek, viceminister for European affairs. They discussed bilateral andinternational issues, including Libya, Syria and Iraq, Europeanimmigration policies and the refugees crisis from North Africaand the Middle East. The Group of Visegrad, which includes theCzech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Poland and Hungary, hasset up projects to more fully integrate the Balkan countries inthe European Union. Mr Valensise also met Czech politicalanalysts, journalists and representatives of banks and themajor Italian institutions in Prague. "This visit has been verypositive from the point of view of the political and culturalrelations between the two countries, but has fostered alsotrade relations," said the Secretary General. "The constantlyrising growth rate of the Czech economy has positively impactedItaly, marking a 10 percent rise in trade exchange with theCzech Republic, confirming and strengthening a positive trend."(AGI). .