Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in a telephone call with Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Monday, welcomed the recently signed agreement under which Etihad Airways acquired a 49-percent share of Italy's Airways (Alitalia).
The agreement paves the way for future projects and a full fledged strategic partnership between the two countries, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
Sheikh Mohammad, who is also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, discussed with Renzi the ways of boosting ties of bilateral cooperation to achieve maximum mutual interests between the two peoples.
Sheikh Mohammad referred to UAE-Italy special relations due to support of the leaderships in the two countries to further them in different fields.
They expressed keenness to develop relations between the two countries.