The Italian ambassador to China, Alberto Bradanini, has his own expectations for China's National People's Congress (NPC), namely that the country's top legislature, which opened in Beijing on March 5, will bring more "balance."

Bradanini has noted that his NPC-focus was mostly on the economic front, in particular, how the current round of economic reforms in China would benefit Italy, through reducing the trade gap, allowing more market access for Italian companies, so that both economies would be "really complementary."

"Environment, agriculture, health and urbanization are sectors in which Italian enterprises have many capacities and advantages which are recognized as being ‘strategic' by the Chinese side as well," the ambassador said.

According to the Italian embassy in China, the Apennine country's trade deficit with China stood at some 3 billion Euro in 1999, and then rose to 5.7 billion in 2003, before reaching a peak in 2010 with more than 20 billion over a total trade volume of 37 billion.

Bradanini now calls for a more balanced trade so that both countries can enjoy the fruits of their mutual cooperation.

"It's not a matter of reviving protectionism. It's a matter of recognizing economic unbalances and working together in order to find a new equilibrium in [the fields of] trade and investment," he said.

Bradanini hopes the abovementioned issues will receive more attention at the NPC since the session, along with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) which almost simultaneously holds its annual sitting, could provide a platform for different motions and proposals, especially those regarding economy and trade, to be heard.

Over the past decade, China has managed to leap from seventh to second place in the world's economic ranking and the Italian ambassador attributes this upward momentum to "China's admission to the WTO and the consequent access to the Western market it has gained."

Nevertheless, Bradanini remained quick to point out that foreign investment is still barred from some sectors, besides tariff barriers and customs regulations, which have damped the Italian zeal to engage in more China-oriented business.

Bradanini said he is among those international eyes to witness how the Chinese government will implement the promised reforms put forward last year at the Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which outlined reforms in up to 60 areas.

The Italian ambassador said the ways in which China could achieve a "balance of reforms, a balance between growth and ecological necessities and a balance between urban and rural areas" would be of great interest to him. Yet he added that addressing of issues on social protection, education and healthcare would be equally important during the NPC.

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