China is willing to deepen cooperation with Italy in various fields, especially the digital economy, which could be set as the new growth area in bilateral cooperation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday.

Wang made the remarks in his virtual meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio. He expressed hope that Italy could create a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. Wang said the bilateral ties have overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and maintained healthy and stable development.

China will continue to advance reform and opening-up and bring greater opportunities to other countries, including Italy, Wang said. "The two sides should tap the potential of cooperation in various fields and further expand and deepen bilateral ties in the post-pandemic era."

During the meeting via video link, Di Maio spoke highly of the way Italy-China ties have progressed. He said the two countries should strengthen cooperation to aid global economy recovery. 

The Italian side firmly supports the EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership and the conclusion of EU-China comprehensive investment agreement at an early date, he added.

Wang and Di Maio also attended the closing ceremony of the 10th joint meeting of the China-Italy Government Committee.

Cooperation on COVID-19

The two sides are willing to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on epidemic prevention, control and treatment on the basis of multilateral, inclusive, transparent and respecting science principles, a joint statement read released after the meeting.

It added that China and Italy agreed that the outbreak underscores the urgency and need for the UN and the WHO to take comprehensive measures to protect global health.

According to the statement, the two sides highlighted the initial results of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator Initiative and its vaccines pillar project -COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (COVAX), agreeing to further support the initiative to ensure equal and universal access to the COVID-19 diagnosis, treatment and vaccine for COVID-19.

The two sides also discussed China's proposal to create a "Health Silk Road" and Italy's proposal to organize a "Global Health Summit."

China-EU ties

The statement said the two sides are satisfied with the momentum in the development of China-EU relations in the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

They reiterated their willingness to support the development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Both sides agreed that the formal signing and subsequent implementation of the EU-China Landmark Geographical Indications Agreement will release more cooperation opportunities for China and the EU, the statement read.

It added that China and Italy are willing to strive for the early conclusion of the ambitious China-EU Cooperation 2025 Strategic Plan and to continue to promote China-EU dialogue in various fields, including the continuation of China-EU dialogue on human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Advance interconnectivity

China and Italy also agreed to promote a memorandum of understanding to jointly advance the construction of the Belt and Road and strengthen the docking of China's Belt and Road Initiative with the EU's connectivity initiatives.

The two sides stressed that they would like to take the opportunity of their joint participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to promote cooperation in financing common projects in order to promote inclusive, green, resilient, open and sustainable development of connectivity.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)