The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, today launched the 24th edition of the Week of the Italian Language in the World (SLIM), the main event promoting the Italian language, which in 2024 is dedicated to the theme “Italian and the Book: The World Between the Lines.”
“Keeping our language alive abroad is crucial, especially in a country like Argentina, where half of the population has Italian roots,” commented Tajani via video link from the Italian School “Cristoforo Colombo” in Buenos Aires. “For next year, I have decided to organise the first Italian-speaking Countries and Italian-speaking world Summit,” the Deputy Prime Minister continued, specifying that the event aims to create a community of all those who, regardless of nationality, have chosen Italian as a language of growth, innovation, and openness. “I am proud of the Italian schools around the world and I thank all the teachers for the work they do,” the Minister concluded.
During today’s launch conference, held at the Farnesina, other speakers included the Secretary General of Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Riccardo Guariglia, Monika Schmutz Kirgöz, Swiss Ambassador to Italy, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, President of the Venice Biennale, Donatella Di Pietrantonio, winner of the 2024 Premio Strega, Massimo Bray, Director General of the Treccani Institute, Adriano Monti Buzzetti, President of the Centre for Books and Reading, Fabio Del Giudice, Director General of the Italian Publishers Association, Elena Pasoli, Director of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, Silvia Tatti, President of the Association of Italianists, and Alessandro De Pedys, Director General for Public and Cultural Diplomacy at Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Founded in 2001, the Week of the Italian Language in the World is organised annually by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration with other language promotion bodies (Ministry of Education and Merit, Ministry of University and Research, Ministry of Culture, Swiss Embassy, Accademia della Crusca, Cepell, CGIE, Italian-Speaking Broadcasting Community, RAI, Dante Alighieri Society, and Treccani).