MAPUTO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Armando Guebuza met in Maputo on Saturday with the visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, testifying the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.

It is the first time that an Italian Prime Minister visited the southern African country since its independence in 1975.

During his stay in Maputo, the Italian Prime Minister also held meetings with politicians, business figures and members of the Italian community living in Mozambique.

In May, a large Italian business delegation visited the country accompanied by deputy minister of foreign affairs Lapo Pistelli and deputy minister of economic development Carlo Calenda, who led a team of about 100 businessmen to identify business and investment opportunities in Mozambique.

It is reported that commercial exchanges between Italy and Mozambique increased 28 percent in 2013.