President Iohannis attends lighting up of Trajan's Column in Rome in the colours of Romania's flag

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis on Sunday attending the lighting up of the Trajan's Column in Rome in the colours of the Romanian national flag. 

The event was part of a state visit to Italy, October 14-17. 

The head of state was accompanied by his wife, Carmen Iohannis. 

Upon arrival at Trajan's Column, Iohannis and his wife were greeted by local administration officials and several hundred people, including a group of children from the Romanian community in Italy. People applauded Iohannis, called out his name and chanted "United we save all of Romania!" 

Subsequently, Traian's Column was illuminated in the colours of the national flag, when people started singing the national anthem of Romania. 

At the same time, the president and his wife talked to the children, took pictures with them, and thanked them for the event. 

The presidential couple also attended a show at the event. 

Trajan's Column remained illuminated in the colours of the Romanian tricolour until 22:30hrs, local. This was a symbolic moment of Iohannis' visit, having a particular significance to the bilateral relationship between the two countries, according to the Presidential Administration. 

At the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Italy on Sunday, Iohannis had a meeting with representatives of the Christian Orthodox, Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic religious denominations. 

Iohannis' visit to Italy takes place amidst the Centennial of Romania's Greater Union and the 10th anniversary of promoting the bilateral relationship between Romania and Italy to strategic partnership. 

According to the Presidential Administration, this is the first state visit to Italy of a Romanian head of state in the last 45 years. 

On Monday, official talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella were scheduled to take place on topics related to the enhanced strategic partnership between the two countries and on European, international and security co-operation. 

The agenda also includes official meetings with head of Italy's Council of Ministers Giuseppe Conte, Senate Chair Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Roberto Fico.