Putin met Italian PM Romano Prodi in Rome on Tuesday evening for talks expected to focus on energy, EU-Moscow relations and possibly human rights, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The two leaders gave no information before their meeting about the political questions on the agenda but Putin’s bid to bring Russia and Europe closer together was expected to be a central feature, local media reported.

Prodi has been a keen supporter of closer ties between Europe and Moscow.

Economic cooperation was expected to be high on the agenda since Italy is Russia’s third biggest trading partner after China and Germany, report said.

As the world’s biggest producer of gas and oil, Russia is a key player in global energy security, Prodi said before meeting Putin.

The talks at Prodi’s office preceded an official Italo-Russian summit in the southern city of Bari on Wednesday, when an important deal ensuring Russian gas to Italy was to be signed.

The deal will allow Italian energy giant ENI to look for oil in Russia and give Russia’s Gazprom a foothold in the Italian energy market.

Economic issues were expected to be in the limelight during Putin’s 24 hours on Italian soil, report said.

Speaking a few hours before Putin’s arrival, Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema urged Russian investors to “believe in” Italy.

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