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Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella
Date: 2024-11-09
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs The People's Republic of China
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On  the afternoon of November 8, 2024, President Xi Jinping held talks with  Italian President Sergio Mattarella, who is on a state visit to China,  at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi  Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the  establishment of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.  The two sides issued an action plan to strengthen the comprehensive  strategic partnership and agreed to uphold the time-honored Silk Road  spirit and take bilateral relations into a new stage of development. The  world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. China and  Italy, both ancient civilizations, should uphold their traditions of  openness and inclusiveness, and encourage the international community to  resolve differences through dialogue and rise above conflicts through  cooperation, and build a beautiful world of harmonious coexistence  together.

Noting  that mutual respect and trust, and win-win cooperation should always be  the defining feature of China-Italy relations, Xi Jinping stressed  that the two sides should fully leverage the role of the China-Italy  Government Committee and dialogue mechanisms in various fields,  strengthen exchanges, consolidate mutual trust, continue to understand  and support each other's core interests and major concerns, and be  strategic partners of mutual support. Noting that China-Italy cultural  cooperation has yielded fruitful results and is full of vitality, Xi  urged the two sides to continue to strengthen people-to-people and  cultural exchanges, implement the new round of cultural cooperation  action plans, deepen cooperation in culture and art, protection of  cultural relics, translation of classical works, tourism, education and  other fields, and make cooperation on cultural heritage sites a new  highlight of China-Italy people-to-people exchanges. The two sides need  to support language teaching and youth exchanges, and work together to  cultivate more envoys like Marco Polo in the new era. The two sides need  to remain cooperative partners helping each other succeed. China is  ready to import more quality Italian products, support mutual investment  by enterprises of the two countries, and continue to advance  cooperation in science, technology, environmental protection, clean  energy, aerospace and other areas.

Xi  Jinping pointed out that the world today is undergoing profound  changes. China and Europe, as major forces for peace and constructive  action, should stick to the right direction of strategic communication,  open cooperation and mutual learning, which is in the interests of both  sides and the world at large. China regards Europe as an important  partner on the path toward realizing Chinese modernization. The two  sides need to seek win-win cooperation and manage their differences  properly to ensure that bilateral relations are more mature and stable,  as duly expected. China is ready to strengthen cooperation with the  European side to cope with global challenges, and hopes that Italy can  play a positive role in this regard.

Sergio  Mattarella said that he still vividly remembers his visit to China in  2017 and the reception of President Xi Jinping's visit to Italy in  2019. This year marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Marco Polo,  whose connection with China epitomizes the long-standing friendship  between the two countries and the mutual success of the two  civilizations. The world today is undergoing profound changes. Human  society needs to strengthen unity and mutual assistance to achieve  harmonious coexistence. Italy and China should further enhance  people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in such fields as culture,  education, language teaching and twinning between heritage sites, and  make new contributions to promoting the exchanges and mutual learning  between Eastern and Western civilizations, as well as the progress of  human civilization. Italy firmly abides by the one-China principle and  has always regarded China as an important cooperative partner. Italy  looks forward to working with China to take the celebration of the 20th  anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic  partnership as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the fields of  economy, trade, science and technology, and take bilateral relations to  a new height. Italy shares similar positions with China on many major  issues. Both sides oppose protectionism, advocate mutual openness, and  stand for strengthening constructive communication, solidarity and  cooperation to jointly meet various challenges. Italy is willing to work  closely with China in multilateral collaboration and contribute the  wisdom of the two civilizations to promoting world peace and stability.

After  the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of  multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as culture,  science and technology, education, and twinning of world heritage sites.

Before the talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Sergio Mattarella at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

A  21-gun salute was fired at Tian'anmen Square, and honor guards lined up  in salutation. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, the  military band played the national anthems of China and Italy.  Accompanied by Xi Jinping, Sergio Mattarella reviewed the guard of honor  of the People's Liberation Army and watched the march-past.

On  the evening of the same day, President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng  Liyuan held a welcoming banquet for President Sergio Mattarella and his  daughter Laura Mattarella at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the  People.

Wang Yi was present at the above events.