G7 shd send message agst protectionism (3)

(ANSA) - Rome, March 21 - The G7 summit in Taormina in May should send a "strong and clear signal on the importance of international trade and commerce against all temptations towards protectionist closure," Premier Paolo Gentiloni said after talks with Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe in Rome Tuesday. "We must keep the banner of free trade flying high," said Abe. Dialogue with Russia should "take steps forward" alongside sanctions, Gentiloni said. Abe said that Rome deserved "respect" for organising a special EU summit marking the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome on March 25. Gentiloni, for his part, said he hoped a free-trade accord between the EU and Japan would soon be drafted. Italy is aiming to boost its trade with Japan that currently stands at nine billion euros a year, Gentiloni said. Abe, for his part, said that negotiations on defence technologies had started between the two countries. Abe also said that North Korea's development of a nuclear capacity had reached a new stage of threat. He added that Japan supported a strong EU as "a resource for the whole world". Gentiloni added that, at May's G7 summit in Taormina, Italy would try to boost women's and health issues.