(Adnkronos) – Italy and China on Wednesday took stock of their relations and looked at opportunities to bolster bilateral cooperation in an array of areas – especially trade and economic ties – at a inter-government meeting in Rome.
“Today’s meeting provides an opportunity to take stock of bilateral relations and further enhance cooperation in several fields, particularly economic and trade relations,” the foreign ministry stated.
The statement was issued as the 12th Italy–China Intergovernmental Committee got underway at Villa Madama with foreign minister Antonio Tajani and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi co-chairing the event.
“Both sides reaffirm their shared commitment to intensifying and rebalancing trade exchanges by gradually removing barriers that limit market access and hinder the full potential of the two economies,” the foreign ministry statement continued.
During the meeting, three thematic working groups will focus on economic and financial issues; culture and civil society; science, technology and higher education, the statement said.
Tajani and Wang Yi will also hold bilateral talks on Wednesday on cooperation and on “the main international crises”, the statement added.
After the event’s morning session, Tajani and Wang were due attend a working lunch with their delegations and a group of Italian entrepreneurs, including Matteo Colaninno (Piaggio & C.), Enrico Marchi (SAVE), Lamberto Frescobaldi (Unione Italiana Vini), Roberto Vavassori (ANFIA), Federico Bricolo (Verona Fiere), Elena Zambon (Zambon Pharma), Luigi Scordamaglia (Filiera Italia), and Paolo Mascarino (Federalimentare).
The Italy–China Intergovernmental Committee is the main tool for advancing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership sealed in 2004, which with together with the Italian government’s “continued commitment”, has “progressively strengthened” ties with China, said the statement.
The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’s aim is to boost cooperation by bringing together representatives of Italy and China’ public administrations. The Intergovernmental Committee meetings are held alternately in Italy and China and the previous session took place in Beijing on 4 September 2023.
The broad range of sectors covered by the 2004 strategic partnership are outlined in a Three-Year Action Plan adopted last year during Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to China last year, the statement noted.
