On May 5, 2016, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Rome with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni of Italy.
Wang Yi expressed that China appreciates Italy for its long-term adherence to the positive and stable policy toward China. Both sides respect and take care of each other's core interests and major concerns, and continuously strengthen mutual trust. The Prime Minister of Italy and Premier Li Keqiang have successfully exchanged visits in 2014, vigorously promoting the in-depth development of bilateral relations. The China-Italy Three-Year Action Plan on Strengthening Economic Cooperation is going well, with positive progress from cooperation in five priority areas including energy conservation and environment protection, medical treatment and public health, sustainable urbanization, agriculture and aviation. China stands ready to maintain the momentum of high-level mutual visits with Italy, duly coordinate and formulate a new Three-Year Action Plan and expand wider space for cooperation.
Wang Yi suggested that both sides should, with a more macro-perspective, promote the three major strategic alignments, namely the docking of China's Belt and Road initiative and the development strategies of Italy, the docking of "Made in China 2025" and Italy's "Industry 4.0", as well as the docking of China's "Internet plus" strategy and the technological innovation plan of Italy, and discuss to launch trilateral cooperation. Cooperation in justice and police affairs has become a new highlight of bilateral relations. The two sides should further strengthen cooperation in fugitive repatriation and illicit assets recovery, and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges in local affairs and culture. It is hoped that the Italian side could provide more convenience for Chinese people traveling in Italy. China welcomes Italy to actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road initiative, believing that it will be conductive to opening up new cooperation space, so as to jointly revitalize the Eurasian continent. China firmly supports the construction of the EU integration, and hopes that as an important member of the EU, Italy will play a positive role in enhancing China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.
Paolo Gentiloni expressed that Italy and China enjoy sound relations. Both sides conduct frequent high-level visits and dynamic cooperation with satisfactory results. It is hoped that the two countries can maintain close high-level exchanges, draft a new Thee-Year Action Plan at an early date, promote more achievements from bilateral cooperation in various fields such as trade, investment as well as culture, and in the meantime, maintain close communication on key international agendas like the G20. The Italian side earnestly expects to be considered as a key cooperative partner by China in jointly building the Belt and Road, and hopes that more Italian businesses would have opportunities to participate in the relevant cooperation in the Belt and Road initiative. Highly valuing China, Italy adheres to the friendly policy towards China, and is willing to become China's reliable strategic partner in the EU, so as to play a positive role in EU-China cooperation.