Italy's top diplomat Luigi Di Maio discussed clandestine migration with Tunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday, in his first visit to the North African country since the president's July 25 power grab.
The foreign minister praised Tunisian efforts to stem the flow of irregular migrants, according to a statement on the presidency's website.
Saied pointed out "the limits of traditional policies in managing the phenomenon of clandestine migration".
According to AFP, the Tunisian president called for new strategies to encourage "regular migration according to mechanisms that respect the rights of migrants".
In May, Italy's Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese visited Tunisia and announced a deal offering the country economic aid in exchange for extra efforts to stop migrants reaching Italy.
Italian authorities have said some 55,000 irregular migrants reached Italy between January and the start of November, compared to fewer than 30,000 last year.
