Tunis: Cooperation programmes between Tunisia and Italy in the fields of higher education and scientific research were the focus of a meeting between Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Moncef Boukthir and Italian Ambassador to Tunisia Alessandro Prunas and his accompanying delegation at the ministry's headquarters on Thursday. The two sides expressed their aspiration to further structure this cooperation by signing an agreement on cooperation in the fields of higher education and scientific research, which will identify the priority areas of cooperation between the two countries and create a steering committee, during the visit of the Italian Minister of Higher Education and Research to Tunisia in May, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research on Friday. They also stressed the need to work to further diversify cooperation between Tunisia and Italy in the fields of higher education and scientific research, and to strengthen it at the bilater al and multilateral levels in order to meet the aspirations of both sides and the real potential for achieving a real strategic partnership. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse – English