Italian Prime Minister to pay official visit to China: Chinese FM

(ECNS) -- At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to China from this Saturday to next Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning announced at a regular press conference on Thursday.

During this time, Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Meloni. Chinese Premier Li and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will have talks and meet with her respectively. The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

The spokesperson noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.

“China and Italy are both countries with an ancient civilization. The two countries are comprehensive strategic partners and have maintained close high-level exchanges and fruitful mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields,” she said.

Mao pointed out that a sound and stable China-Italy relationship is in the interest of both countries and peoples, and contributes to inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning.

She said China looks to work with Italy through Meloni’s visit to cement traditional friendship, promote the Silk Road spirit, and strengthen mutual understanding and trust. 

China also hopes to deepen practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, pursue the steady and sustained growth of China-Italy and China-EU relations, and jointly contribute to a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world, Mao concluded.