In a recent interview with The Times of India, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Culture and Tourism Francesco Rutelli said that Italy will be "training Indian archaeologists in the field of preservation and restoration." He also said that cited examples of the two nations working together in "archaeology, tourism, contemporary art, music, design, cinema." Rutelli said that "A project to restore the Ajanta caves is already in motion" and through the "collaboration between India, Italy and Japan."

Rutelli was visiting India to attend the Satyagraha Conference and also do preparatory work for the visit of his Prime Minister Romano Prodi.