The Italian media highlighted Friday the inaugural ceremony of the New Suez Canal and the statements by Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti who attended the ceremony.

"We have ties with the Egyptian Armed Forces, and we are ready to offer our expertise in the area of fighting terrorists … Egypt is our partner," Pinotti was quoted as saying.

Italian newspapers named the heads of state and government who were present at the event with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.

Positive environmental and economic impacts of the New Suez Canal were also part of Italian media reports.

La Repubblica published a number of images about the event proceedings, as well as future expectations with regard to the project statistics, noting that the new Canal reflected President El Sisi's commitment towards world maritime trade movement.

On its front page, Corriere della Sera wrote "Egypt's gift to the world".

The new 72-kilometer waterway, built in less than a year at a cost of EGP60 billion, runs part of the way alongside the existing canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

The legendary project was mostly financed by investment certificates sold to Egyptians.