The vice president of the Italian Senate met with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on Monday. The visit is the latest in Italy's recent moves apparently aimed at boosting ties with Taiwan.

Gian Marco Centinaio arrived in Taiwan last Wednesday. Taiwan's presidential office says Centinaio is the highest-ranking Italian lawmaker to visit there.

During Monday's meeting, Tsai showed her gratitude to the Italian ministers and parliament for their repeated expressions of support for Taiwan.

Centinaio said cooperation between Italy and Taiwan should not only be economic, but encompass cultural and even political relations to some extent.

Italy is the only G7 member country to have signed a memorandum of understanding on China's Belt and Road Initiative.

But US media have reported that the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who took office last year, is weighing a withdrawal from the project.

Meanwhile, Taiwan is soon to open a representative office in the major Italian city of Milan. It has also been disclosed that Italy accepted a visit by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu last week, though the country has no diplomatic ties with Taiwan.