Italy’s Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Giorgio Silli, went on a mission to Ottawa from 4 to 6 February.
The mission reaffirmed the importance of the strategic partnership between Italy and Canada in a delicate phase for international security, confirming the Italian-Canadian collaboration in the G7 framework, also in view of their successive G7 Presidencies – Italy’s in 2024 and Canada’s in 2025.
Undersecretary Silli held talks with Canada’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Morrison, Deputy Minister of International Trade, Rob Stewart, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Oliphant, and the Chairmen of the House of Commons Standing Committee and of the Standing Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, Ali Ehsassi and Peter Boehm. The talks covered a wide range of topics, from the ongoing crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, to the Red Sea, the Indo-Pacific, and major global challenges and multilateral issues. In addition, the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed, with a focus on cooperation in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Finally, the importance of further strengthening cultural initiatives and the promotion of the Italian language in Canada was highlighted.
Undersecretary Silli also met with representatives of Canadians of Italian origin community in Ottawa, including Senator Tony Loffreda and Hon. Angelo Iacono, MP and Chair of the Canada-Italy Interparliamentary Group. Finally, the Undersecretary met with representatives of the National Congress of Italian Canadians at Villa Marconi, a cultural centre built with funds raised by the Canadians of Italian origin community.
