German-Italian relationship "very strong": Renzi

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Wednesday his country's ties with Germany is "very strong", following talks with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel near the city of Modena, northern Italy.

Bilateral talks were held in the town of Maranello in the Emilia Romagna region, where luxury car brand Ferrari headquarters and its Formula One racing team are based.

The talks focused on the status of German-Italian bilateral ties and Europe's immigration crisis.

"The German-Italian relationship is very strong, and we have chosen this place to hold talks exactly because the economy of this region is strictly connected to Germany," Renzi told a press conference after the meeting.

All of the northeast Italian regions would prove a growing economic exchange between Italy and Germany, according to the Italian prime minister.

"Germany, which is currently Europe's strongest economy, is our privileged partner under many perspectives, and we need to create further development opportunities," he also said.

The two countries' finance ministers, Pier Carlo Padoan and Wolfgang Schauble, further tackled economic issues during the day.

Talks also focused on Europe's migration crisis, with both Merkel and Renzi stressing the need of a Europe's common approach to the emergency, and of a stronger policy of repatriation for those not entitled to the refugee status.

The meeting also occurred a week after a devastating earthquake hit central Italy on Aug. 24.

"I want to really thank Angela, who showed us the German friendship and solidarity since the earliest hours after the quake," Renzi said.

Both officials were introduced to Italian fire fighters who rescued an eight-year-old girl in Pescara del Tronto, one of the towns worst hit by the 6.0-magnitude quake that struck the central regions of Lazio and Marche.

The child was rescued some 16 hours after the temblor, which claimed 294 lives according to a still provisional death toll.

The German chancellor pledged financial help, including funding the reconstruction of a school.

"Our government will further contribute, with the help of German entrepreneurs and the Bundesliga (German football League)," Merkel said.

She also sounded quite sympathetic to Italy's requests of budget leniency in order to face the high costs of quake reconstruction.

The Italian government has already announced it would call for flexibility from the European Union (EU) in order to untie reconstruction funds from the EU tight fiscal rules all state members must follow.

"Italy will take whatever is needed (for reconstruction). The key factor now is to start off by spending money in a proper way," Renzi added on Wednesday.

According to Merkel, the EU Commission will find a solution to Italy's needs within the rules of the existing stability and growth pact.

"Italy will submit a transparent proposal, and I think we will be able to find a sensible solution in Europe," Merkel stated.

Finally, the Italian government would officially appoint Vasco Errani as commissioner for reconstruction in central Italy, Renzi announced.

The appointment would be officially announced on Thursday.

Errani was governor of the Emilia Romagna region in 2012, when the whole area was heavily struck by two close quakes that hit cities and productive activities. Endit