Nations firm up ties ahead of anniversary

Sino-Italian push to strengthen bonds in business and cultural exchanges

China and Italy are reaffirming their commitment to strategic partnership by focusing on economic, technological and cultural cooperation. This year marks a milestone as the two nations celebrate two decades of robust diplomatic relations.

In a recent interview with ANSA, a leading Italian news agency, Jia Guide, Chinese ambassador to Italy, emphasized the positive trajectory of Sino-Italian economic ties, highlighting trade and investment as key pillars of the bilateral relationship.

According to Chinese statistics, the total trade volume between China and Italy in the first quarter of this year reached about 123.86 billion yuan ($17.06 billion), representing a 4 percent year-on-year increase.

Jia said that the two countries' industrial structures are uniquely complementary, with strong potential in the green economy, ecological construction, technological innovation and high-end manufacturing.

This year, both nations have embraced the spirit of the Silk Road, intensifying economic dialogues to explore trade potential and enhance trade levels. Practical solutions have been provided to assist interactions between Chinese and Italian small and medium-sized enterprises, he said.

The Italian government has welcomed Chinese investments, particularly in the electric vehicle sector. Ambassador Jia expressed confidence that the Italian government's signals will assure Chinese companies to invest in Italy.

He emphasized the need for both countries to provide a fair, transparent and predictable business environment, which will bring tangible benefits to their peoples.

At the "Invest in China" series of events held in Milan, Italy, in April, Mario Boselli, chairman of the Italy China Council Foundation, stressed the importance of investing in China for Italian enterprises.

He noted that such investments help high-quality Italian products enter the Chinese market. He also highlighted the potential for increased collaboration between Italian SMEs and their Chinese counterparts.

Alberto Borini, general manager of Chengdu Beilang Technology, an Italian high-tech SME, shared his experiences of operating in China, noting the complete supply chain, secure social environment and high quality of life. He emphasized China's competitiveness in the high-tech industry and the efficient support from local government officials in meeting SMEs' needs.

Currently, Italy is China's fourth-largest trade partner in the European Union, while China is Italy's largest trade partner in Asia. In 2023, bilateral trade amounted to $71.76 billion. Chinese exports to Italy reached $44.52 billion, while imports from Italy stood at $27.23 billion, a 1.4 percent increase from 2022.

Major Chinese exports to Italy include clothing, textiles, shoes and electronics, while imports from Italy feature textile machinery, animal hides and precision instruments. Notable Chinese investments in Italy include Weichai Group's 75 percent stake in Ferretti Group; State Grid's 35 percent stake in CDP Reti and ChemChina's 26.2 percent stake in Pirelli.

High-tech sectors

Technological cooperation between China and Italy has also seen significant strides, marked by mutually beneficial collaborations across various high-tech sectors.

Notably, companies including BYD, Chery and Great Wall Motors have expanded their presence in Italy, collaborating with local firms to develop and manufacture EVs. The Italian government has been supportive, providing incentives for these investments to drive the transition toward greener transportation.

China's tech giants such as Huawei, ZTE and Alibaba have established substantial operations in Italy. Huawei's involvement in Italy's 5G rollout and the launch of a massive data center in Lombardy make Italy a key player in Europe's digital economy.

Mynet is an Italian network service provider that has been offering fiber-optic services to private enterprises and listed companies since the 1990s. Mynet has partnered with Huawei to provide the best services to customers.

Giovanni Zorzoni, a senior executive at Mynet, said Huawei's product quality is excellent. "For some companies, Huawei's advantage might lie in price but for us Huawei has always been reliable in terms of quality," he said.

Alibaba has significantly expanded its presence in Italy, aiming to bridge Italian brands with the vast Chinese market. The company is helping Italian businesses tap into the Chinese market through various platforms, including Tmall and Ali-Express.

This initiative helps Italian brands, particularly SMEs, access Chinese consumers who are increasingly seeking quality international products. Alibaba's cloud computing arm, Alibaba Cloud, has been expanding its services across Europe to provide digital transformation solutions to businesses. This enhances the technological capabilities of Italian companies, enabling them to be more competitive globally.

The two countries have also launched several joint research projects. For instance, the annual China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation Week brings together researchers and entrepreneurs from both nations to explore collaborations in fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and space research.

Broader cooperation

Ambassador Jia emphasized the importance of strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, implementing the consensus reached at the G20 Bali Summit and opposing factional confrontation. Cooperation is seen as beneficial for the security and development interests of both countries, regions and the world. The resurgence in tourism and cultural exchanges in the post-pandemic era has been noteworthy, with the number of flights between China and Italy exceeding pre-pandemic levels.

China's recent extension of visa-free travel for Italian citizens until the end of 2025 is expected to enhance people-to-people exchanges. Both countries have planned numerous cultural and artistic exchanges, such as exhibitions of Shandong handicrafts and Yellow River civilization in Rome, and performances in China by La Scala Ballet.

Other exchange programs between Chinese and Italian universities have been established, promoting the exchange of knowledge and expertise in science and technology.

As of 2023, more than 4,000 Chinese students were studying in Italian universities, while more than 1,000 Italian students were pursuing education in China. The two nations have seen close cooperation in cultural and educational fields, with the establishment of several Confucius Institutes and classrooms across Italy. To date, China and Italy have established 86 pairs of sister provinces and cities.

wangjinhui@chinadaily.com.cn