China, Italy to jointly tackle global challenges: FM

Taking Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's China visit as an opportunity, the two countries expressed their willingness to strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose division and confrontation, as well as decoupling and disconnection, and work together to address global challenges, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson revealed on Wednesday at a press conference.

Meloni has just concluded her five-day visit to China from Saturday to Wednesday. The trip marks Meloni's first visit to China since she took office. She is the first European leader to visit China after the third plenum.

As this year marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, both sides will deepen cultural, educational, tourism, and sports exchanges and cooperation, making the friendship between the two countries more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian introduced at Wednesday press briefing.

Both sides support the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe, support resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and support avoiding the escalation of economic and trade frictions. Both sides are willing to strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose division and confrontation, oppose decoupling and disconnection, and work together to address global challenges, according to Lin.

During her time in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Meloni, while Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji held separate talks and meetings with the Italian leader, Lin stated.

Noting this trip coincided with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, Lin said the two countries issued a 2024-2027 action plan on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, emphasizing their willingness to uphold the Silk Road spirit, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote cultural exchanges, and elevate bilateral relations to a higher level, making greater contributions to world peace, stability, and prosperity.

During the visit, Li and Meloni jointly attended the opening ceremony of the seventh meeting of the China-Italy entrepreneurs committee and witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation agreements covering industry, education, environmental protection, geographical indications, food safety, and more. Meloni also visited Shanghai, according to the Chinese spokesperson.

During the meetings and talks, the leaders of both countries exchanged in-depth views on China-Italy, China-Europe relations, and the international situation. Both sides agreed that friendly exchanges between China and Italy have deep historical roots and have made significant contributions to the exchange and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. They pledged to inherit and promote the friendly traditions, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen political mutual trust, and jointly build a more resilient and mature bilateral relationship, Lin stated.

The Italian side reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle. Both sides agreed to make good use of the China-Italy government committee and various dialogue platforms to enhance practical cooperation in trade and investment, industrial manufacturing, technological innovation, green energy, artificial intelligence, and other fields, Lin told the press.