Xi calls for making China-Italy BRI cooperation a 'model'

World
Europe

00:40

China will further work with Italy in jointly building the Belt and Road and expand cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and cultural exchanges.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made the remarks on Saturday when meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who is in China for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) scheduled for April 25-27.

Xi said he appreciates that Italy has taken the lead among Western countries in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The two sides signed the BRI MoU during Xi's state visit to the Mediterranean country last month.

Xi also called for greater efforts to make China-Italy cooperation a model of China-Europe cooperation under the BRI.

Conte expressed willingness to promote multilateralism and strengthen cooperation with China, stressing that the country has a firm resolution in jointly building the Belt and Road.

More and more countries will take an active part in the BRI which is beneficial to people around the world, he added.

The prime minister said he welcomed Chinese enterprises to invest in Italy, adding that the country's business policies will be fair and non-discriminatory.

He also congratulated China's success in holding the forum.

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