Obama voices support for new Italian leader's economic agenda

U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday voiced support for new Italian leader's economic agenda and expressed hope for continued cooperation on areas of common interest.

In his conversation with new Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi over the phone, President Obamareaffirmed the "deep and enduring bonds" their countries share, the White House said in a readout of the talks.

Obama also expressed support for "Renzi's leadership on creating economic growth and jobs," and looked forward to " continued close partnership" on Afghanistan, Libya, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations, and security and defense cooperation.

As Obama will travel to Italy in March, both leaders saw their upcoming meeting in Rome as an opportunity to build "deeper" bilateral cooperation, the White House said.

Renzi, 39, took office Saturday, becoming the youngest ever prime minister in Italy. His cabinet is also the youngest with an average age of 47.8. Renzi and his team face a challenging task of accelerating reforms and reviving the country's troubled economy.