Beijing, February 28th—Zhao Shitong, Assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today on the morning with a delegation led by Lorenzo Riccardi, Chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) at request. 

Zhao expressed that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, which is of extraordinary significance for both sides. In recent years, there have been close high-level exchanges between both sides. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the exchanges and cooperation between China and Italy in various fields have achieved fruitful results. China’s high-quality development and high-level opening-up will provide more opportunities for the business communities of various countries,including Italy. The China Economic Cooperation Center of the IDCPC is willing to strengthen exchanges with the CICC and jointly promote cooperation between the two sides in economy, trade and other fields. 

Lorenzo said that China is an important trading partner of Italy. The Italian business community attaches great importance to cooperation with China, is optimistic about the development prospects of the Chinese economy, and pays attention to as well as welcomes a series of policies and measures recently introduced by China to stabilize foreign investment. The CICC is willing to introduce China’s economic policies and market opportunities to the Italian political and business communities, and encourage more Italian enterprises to invest and start businesses in China.