DAMASCUS, (SANA)_ Syria and Italy have deep-rooted relations of friendship, technical and cultural cooperation, boosted by both countries' shared desire as to upgrade and develop such relations, as reflected by exchanged officials' visits, economic, trade, tourist, and archeological activities.

The Syrian and Italian viewpoints are identical as to improve these relations, in contribution to the realization of stability and sustainable development in the region.

Italy is Syria's first European trade partner. Trade exchange volume between Syria and Italy reached nearly to 94.310 billion Syrian Pounds (SYP) in the year 2008, of which 55.146 billion SYP as exports, and 39.164 SYP as imports, according to Syria's Bureau of Statistics.

Syria and Italy have an agreement on infrastructure development, insurance sectors, renewable energy resources, and on the creation of a Syrian-Italian forum for investment and joint cooperation.

 Syrian and Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs signed an agreement for cultural cooperation, an 80-million Euro agreement for technical and financial cooperation, of which 60 million Euro as easy loans, and 20 million as a grant for services and infrastructure projects , and a memorandum of understanding for permanent bilateral exchange of political consultations.

The Syrian-Italian Businessmen Council was launched on March, the 6th; the Council includes representatives for economic activities from both countries, as to strengthen bilateral economic exchange, and expertise exchange in business, economy, and services fields.

The Syria-Italian Economic Forum was held in Damascus last November, in bolstering of economic and industrial cooperation between specialized companies of both countries, with the participation of more the 200 Italian businessmen. A memo on the creation of an Italian technological center, a memo for Syrian exports promotion, and joint declaration regarding Syria's participation in 'Milan-Expo 2015' were signed at the end of the Forum.

Furthermore, Syria and Italy are linked with an agreement on archeology excavation and restoration; a grant of 10.33 million Euro was provided by Italy for heritage, museums, and castles in Syria.

Professor Paolo Mattie, the renowned Italian archeologist, has unearthed Syria's Kingdom of Ebla in the year 1964. Al-Ibrahim