Strengthening Italy-China relations at G20 Summit: Opportunities for trade and investment

Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged on Saturday greater access for Italian companies to the Chinese market via expos and other platforms.

China encourages more Italian companies to enter the Chinese market through platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China International Supply Chain Expo, Li said when meeting here with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the 20th Group of 20 Summit.

China also expects Italy to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest in Italy, Li added.

Li urged joint efforts to step up people-to-people cooperation in tourism, education, sports, youth, and sub-national exchanges, to facilitate cross-border travel, and to deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

He said China was ready to strengthen coordination with Italy within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the G20, build a broader consensus, and bolster the international community's confidence and resolve in upholding multilateralism and reinforcing multilateral mechanisms.

Meloni said Italy-China relations are maintaining positive momentum, with active exchanges at all levels and steady progress in practical cooperation.

She said Italy is ready to take the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to make full use of mechanisms such as the Italy-China Government Committee and the Italy-China Joint Economic Commission, accelerate the implementation of the action plan on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Italian prime minister also said Italy welcomes more Chinese companies to invest and do business in the country, while also encouraging Italian enterprises to expand investment in China.

Italy also stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with China on multilateral platforms to jointly uphold multilateralism, she added.

Meloni aslo delivered an address during the working session on inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Meloni later also addressed the second working session ‘A Resilient World – the G20’s Contribution. Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transitions; Food Systems’.

Additional reporting Xinhua