TEHRAN, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that he expected to sign the credit line agreement with Italy for smoother relations between the two countries.

In a letter to his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella, Rouhani said signing a credit line agreement would pave the way for the easy and accelerated implementation of the documents that the two sides have already signed, Tasnim news agency reported.

He also congratulated the Italian leader and nation on the Republic Day and hailed the growing ties with Italy in recent years.

"Constructive interaction and growing ties with the friend country Italy, as a major member of the European Union, on the basis of mutual respect and interests has been a priority for the Islamic republic over the past few years," the Iranian president said.

Rouhani visited Italy in January 2016, during which the two countries signed a roadmap for development of ties in political, economic, cultural, tourism, scientific and technological fields.?