President Edgar Lungu on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA70) in New York on Sunday held bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi where he invited him to visit Zambia and explore investment opportunities.

Mr Lungu said Zambia and Italy have had a long standing partnership which needs to be boosted through continued cooperation.

He was speaking when he met Mr Renzi and his delegation on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA70) in New York on Sunday.

Mr Renzi was recently ushered into office.

Mr Lungu said Zambia would be happy if Mr Renzi visited to see for himself how the two countries could cement links and build on cooperation in various sectors of the economy.

"We would be very glad if you found time to come to Zambia and see for yourself where we can cement our links and build on our cooperation in various sectors of the economy," Mr Lungu said.

Mr Lungu said that Zambia was ever grateful to Italy for the continued support it rendered in various sectors.

He said Italy had rendered support to Agip and the Indeni Petroleum Refinery, which was the fuel hub of the country as well as the first airline Zambia Airways.

Mr Lungu said that Zambia and Italy had also shared a cultural history to the extent that some of its citizens have settled in Zambia.

Mr Renzi, who told Mr Lungu that he was the 27th Prime Minister of Italy since the end of World War II serving the 63rd government, said none of his predecessors had been to sub-Saharan Africa.

He was happy to meet Mr Lungu especially that it was the first official engagement between the two leaders.

Mr Renzi said Italy had in the last months changed its approach in the manner it was dealing with particular countries in Africa.

He said his country had embarked on an important initiative with African countries, but he was particularly interested in the discussions with Zambia.

"We want to discuss with you the spirit of cooperation, spirit of interaction, investment and to exchange students' ideas for the future," Mr Renzi said.