Billing the talks as a first for the G7 grouping, Franceschini said the March 30th-31st meeting would focus on the protection of cultural heritage, combatting trafficking of artistic and historic items and using culture as an instrument for dialogue.
It will be part of the preparations for a summit of the leaders of G7 countries - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - in Sicily at the end of May.