Good morning everyone, and welcome to Italy!
As the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic and the current President of the Group of Seven, it is a great honor for me to welcome you. Leading this forum for the seventh time, Italy has played a crucial role in managing global crises over the last decades – particularly those that threaten our freedom and democracy.
We have chosen to host the Leaders’ Summit in Puglia, a region in southern Italy known for being a bridge between East and West. This location symbolizes our commitment to strengthening dialogue with nations in the Global South. The logo for the Italian Presidency, featuring an olive tree with seven olives, represents our cooperation on global challenges and our openness to the world.
Our agenda for the next two days is packed with discussions on pressing issues such as the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, the development of supply chains, generative Artificial Intelligence, and the focus on Africa. We must address challenges such as human trafficking and migration with a different approach.
I am confident that our discussions will lead to tangible results, and I am grateful to all of you for being here. I hope you will enjoy the hospitality for which Italy is renowned, despite our busy schedule.
Thank you.
[Courtesy translation]
