Hangzhou, July 21st—The Second China-Italy Business Forum and China (Zhejiang)-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference was held here on the afternoon. Ma Hui, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), Hu Wei, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Vinicio Peluffo, President of the "Friends of China" Parliamentary Association of Italy, and Tiziana D'Angelo, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, attended and addressed the event. The seminar was co-organized by the China Economic Cooperation Center, the Foreign Affairs Office of Zhejiang Province, the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province and the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce. More than 80 participants were present, including representatives from Chinese local governments and the business community, as well as a multi-party parliamentary delegation from Italy led by Peluffo, business representatives, and diplomats from the Italian Embassy and consulates in China. 

Ma noted that, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the three-year action plan for strengthening the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership has been steadily advanced. This year marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. China is now vigorously advancing high-quality development and high-level opening up. The potential for China-Italy cooperation is enormous, and the two sides should jointly safeguard the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, regularly carry out industrial matchmaking through bilateral cooperation mechanisms and platforms, and tap the potential for cooperation in such areas as new energy, high-end equipment, green and low-carbon industries, people-to-people and cultural engagement, science and education. The IDCPC will further enhance the effectiveness of its "political party + practical cooperation" and "political party + locality" platforms to provide greater support for exchanges and cooperation between businesses and localities of the two countries.  

Hu noted that the seven-hundred-year humanistic connection between Marco Polo and Hangzhou has laid a profound foundation for Zhejiang's economic and trade cooperation with Italy. Currently, the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership continues to gather momentum, with strong industrial complementarity and deep people-to-people affinity between Zhejiang and Italy. Bilateral trade has risen year after year, two-way investment has continued to expand, and cooperation has shown strong resilience. Zhejiang, with its world-class open hubs, high-quality science and innovation platforms and a first-class business environment nationwide, enjoys distinctive advantages for diversified China-Italy cooperation. The province will support the implementation of all kinds of cooperation projects with comprehensive policies and full-cycle services, jointly opening up new prospects for mutually beneficial and win-win development.  

Peluffo noted that the current geopolitical landscape, energy transition and restructuring of global industrial chains have brought multiple challenges, and countries should not adopt a closed or conservative approach. Italy and China are comprehensive strategic partners with notable industrial complementarity, and bilateral trade and two-way investment have continued to grow. Italy has strong capabilities in precision manufacturing, fashion and innovation, and green technology. Zhejiang has a robust digital economy and advanced manufacturing base. The two sides could focus on deepening collaboration in green and low-carbon sectors and frontier science and innovation, and link up scientific research resources to carry out joint research and development and talent exchanges.  

Consul General of Italy in Shanghai, Davide Angelibusi, Board Member of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, and other Italian business representatives noted that China-Italy economic and trade cooperation is deeply rooted and broad in prospect. While the current global economic landscape is undergoing profound adjustments, the complementarity and resilience of the two economies remain strong. Italian enterprises are highly optimistic about the vitality of Zhejiang's private economy and its strengths in digital economy innovation. Italy's traditional strengths in high-end manufacturing, precision machinery and fashion design align closely with Zhejiang's industrial ecosystem, and cooperation between the two sides is expected to generate new synergies. Italy will continue to deepen cooperation with its Chinese partners and actively encourage more Italian enterprises to invest and do business in Zhejiang.  

Representatives of Chinese and Italian enterprises conducted on-site exchanges and matchmaking. Prior to the event, the Italian delegation also visited key enterprises in Zhejiang Province.