A day before a scheduled meeting with Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov told his counterpart in Rome, Giorgio Napolitano, that Bulgaria was keen for Italy to continue investing in Bulgaria in spite of the global financial crisis.

Bulgarian media quoted Napolitano as saying: "Relations between Italy and Bulgaria originate from the distant past and from the historical and cultural closeness. The economic relations are developing well in the form of Italian investments in Bulgaria. Our countries are called upon to work jointly in the field of culture".

Purvanov said that he and Napolitano had discussed how to prevent a drop in the inflow of Italian investments because of the economic crisis.

Purvanov said that Europe's energy security would be guaranteed by the completion of projects such as South Stream and the EU-sponsored Nabucco gas transit pipelines, and the construction of new nuclear power plants such as Bulgaria's second nuclear power station, being built in the town of Belene.

The two presidents confirmed their interest in the South Stream gas pipeline project going ahead, with Napolitano saying that Italy and Bulgaria were determined to take steps to diversify energy sources.

Purvanov's visit is the first official visit by a Bulgaria head of state to Italy.

On February 26, he was scheduled to meet Berlusconi and the mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin was scheduled to meet for talks with his counterpart Franco Frattini.