Italian Premier Romano Prodi's first trip to the White House since coming to power last year has been scheduled for February 4, according to diplomatic sources in Washington.
Prodi's meeting with United States President George W.Bush will come 21 months after the centre-left leader won national elections, ousting former premier and staunch Bush ally Silvio Berlusconi.
Prodi met the US president in Rome last June, during a visit which was marred by violent protests against the war in Iraq.
Meeting Prodi in Rome, Bush underscored the solidity of ties between Washington and Rome, playing down recent differences on foreign policy and other issues.
"Italy is a great friend... Relations between our countries are strong and we intend to keep them that way," he said after inviting Prodi to visit the White House.
Bush aides denied that the president had a better relationship with Prodi's predecessor.
The Italian premier and the US leader have disagreed on several issues in recent years.
The US-led war in Iraq has been among the key points of discord. Prodi, as European Commission chief opposed intervention in Iraq, while then-premier Berlusconi supported it.
Prodi this year also resisted US calls for Italy and other Nato allies to take a more active role in offensive operations in Afghanistan.
Relations were again tested when the US criticised Italy over its handling of a hostage crisis in Afghanistan.
More recently, Bush and Prodi have been on different sides of the debate on climate change, with the Italian leader advocating decisive action by Western countries and Bush resisting firm objectives.
Other points of friction between Rome and Washington include the trial in Italy of 26 CIA agents accused of abducting an Islamic cleric in Milan and another trial against a US soldier who killed an Italian agent during a 'friendly fire' incident in Iraq.
Opposition in Prodi's government to the expansion of a US airbase in northern Italy has also created embarrassment for the government, which nevertheless gave the official go-ahead.
Prodi's visit to Washington will follow one by President Giorgio Napolitano, which is expected to take place in December.
