Rome, Nov 11 (IANS/AKI) Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has underscored the strategic importance of his country's alliance with the US in a phone call to congratulate President elect Donald Trump on his victory.
Renzi also told Trump that Italy wishes to work with the US ahead of the G7 Summit taking place in the Italian coastal town of Taormina in May, his office said in a statement late Thursday.
Renzi said he would work with whoever became the US President but backed the campaign of Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
He expressed surprise at political outsider Trump's shock win against Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election on Tuesday but said Italy must respect the result.
"We are sure that the friendship between Italy and America will remain strong and solid," Renzi said on Wednesday after Trump's victory was announced.
--IANS/AKI
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