US, Italy agree on "close coordination" over shared challenges

Washington, Feb 18 (IANS) US President Barack Obama and Italy's new President Sergio Mattarella agreed to continue "close coordination" to cope with "shared challenges." In a telephone conversation Tuesday, the two leaders reaffirmed the " deep and abiding" ties between their countries, the White House said in a statement, Xinhua reported. "They agreed that the US and Italian governments would remain in close coordination to address shared challenges," the statement said.