Strive For A Better Future For China-Italy Relations.

Byline: H. E Mr. Li Ruiyu

Spring heralds a fresh start. At the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Italy. This visit is the first visit to Italy by a Chinese President in a decade, and marks Xi's first state visit to Italy. It is of epoch-making significance for China-Italy relations and will surely open a new chapter in bilateral friendship and pragmatic cooperation.

China and Italy are outstanding representatives of eastern and western civilizations. Although they are far from each other geographically, the friendship between the two countries goes back a long way.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Italy in November 1970, especially since the establishment of China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership 15 years ago, bilateral relations have embarked on the fast track of development, with traditional friendship brimming with new vitality and vigorous cooperation in various areas.

China and Italy are sincere friends that respect and trust each other. In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two countries have maintained a good momentum.

In November 2016, President Xi made a stopover on the Italian island of Sardinia en route to South America and met with the then Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. In 2017, President Mattarella paid a state visit to China.

The then Italian Prime Ministers Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni attended the 2016 G20 Hangzhou summit and the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017, respectively. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte successfully started the prime ministers' regular meeting mechanism between the two countries.

The two sides have always understood each other and supported respective core interests and major concerns, and constantly cemented the political foundation of bilateral relations.

China and Italy are win-win partners on the basis of mutual benefit. The two countries are highly complementary to each other in economy and share prominent common interests.

Bilateral trade hit a record level of $54.23 billion in 2018. The two-way investment between China and Italy has kept expanding to exceed $20 billion. Italy participated in the first China International Import Expo with high standards, introducing more high-quality commodities made in Italy to the Chinese market.

With the continuous deepening of cooperation under the Belt and Road...

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