Wider potential seen for ties with Italy

ROME — The value of trade between China and Italy has increased for three consecutive years, shows data received last year, and experts say bilateral cooperation in various fields has been fruitful and has immense potential.

Vito Petrocelli, former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Italian Senate, said Italy and China have highly complementary economies, whose relationship, especially in the economic and trade fields, has made a "leap forward".

Cooperation between the two countries in the economic, cultural, political and social fields has become a "benchmark" within the European Union, which confirms the need to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.