Polish President Andrzej Duda meets Mattarella and Conte in Rome

Polish President Andrzej Duda was welcomed to Rome on Wednesday by with his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella and Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte.

Duda started his state visit to Italy with a trip to the Spallanzani hospital where he signed an agreement for joint research on a COVID-19 vaccine and therapies.

Later in the morning, Duda met Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace, along with the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio.

In the afternoon, he went to Chigi Palace to meet Conte.

During his three day visit to Italy, Duda is also scheduled to visit Montecassino, 150 kilometers south of Rome, site of one of the most famous and tragic World War II battles, which saw more than 1,000 Polish soldiers perish while fighting the German army.

Duda, on his first trip abroad since his re-election, is also scheduled to meet  Pope Francis at the Vatican City on Friday.