Chinese premier pledges to promote two-way opening up with Italy

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday expressed the readiness to work with Italy to further advance two-way opening up.

Li made the remarks during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the 20th G20 Summit, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday and Sunday.

Li said China is ready to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Italy and build a more stable and productive comprehensive strategic partnership.

He noted that China is willing to deepen connectivity and coordination with Italy in markets and industries, and promote more balanced and high-quality growth in bilateral trade.

He also pledged greater market access for Italian companies through major platforms such as 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.

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, facilitate cross-border travel, and deepen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

He said China is ready to strengthen coordination with Italy within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the G20, build 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.

(With input from Xinhua)