(Adnkronos) – Ties between Italy and China are “ancient” and continue to develop “intensely” president Sergio Mattarella said on Friday during an official visit to China aimed at re-launching a 20-year-old strategic partnership and forging new commercial accords.
“The relationship has developed intensely in recent times and continues to develop,” Mattarella said during a visit to the Italian Institute of Culture in Beijing.
“And it is very important for us that it takes place in a constructive, positive, highly collaborative manner – thanks to the work done by those who represent Italy.”
Mattarella is being accompanied on his six-day visit through Tuesday by a delegation that includes Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani.
After becoming the first G7 nation to sign up to China’s flagship Belt and Road global infrastructure project in 2019, Italy announced last December it would not renew the deal but has continued to emphasise its wish to nurture political, trade and cultural ties with China.
