Rome — The Mozambican and Italian governments have agreed to expand their economic relations, in line with their excellent political relations.

This pledge was made on Thursday in Rome by Mozambican President Armando Guebuza and the Italian Minister of Foreign Trade, Mauro Agostini, at the end of Guebuza's three day visit to Italy.

During the meeting, Agostini noted that, despite their strong political ties, the economic relations between Mozambican and Italy were feeble. It was the Italian government's desire that, as from 2008, the two countries should work to correct this situation.

Agostini said that Italy holds a comparative advantage in some areas that would of interest to Mozambique, such as medium and large scale industry, construction, agriculture and livestock, and professional training

Also attending the meeting were several Italian business people, who said their companies are ready to invest immediately in Mozambique, and set up partnerships with Mozambican companies.

Guebuza said he was pleased to find such a willingness on the part of Italy to make a qualitative jump in the field of economic relations. Agostini's promises, he added, were in line with the Mozambican government's desire to build a strong and dynamic economy.

Guebuza said that, just as Mozambicans had won the war for their country's independence, so they would be able to defeat the scourge of poverty in the near future. He stressed that Mozambique possesses such immense natural resources that, if they were made proper use of, each and every Mozambican could live in prosperity.

On Thursday Guebuza also had a 30 minute audience with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI.