Hu meets Italian Premier  

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands on Thursday afternoon with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi who is in Beijing to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit to be held on October 24 to 25. [Xinhua]

In his meeting with  Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi Hu said China and Italy had maintained good momentum in bilateral ties as the political trust and coordination in major international issues strengthened.

The trade structure of the two countries had been optimized and mutual investment increased, and technology and environmental protection cooperation had been fruitful, he said.

Hu added the two countries would take the chance of the ASEM summit to improve contact between Asia and Europe, as well as China and the EU.

He also called for cooperation with the international community to prevent financial crisis from being escalated and reduce its harm on the tangible economy, stave off a global economic recession, and find a way to reform the international financial system, so as to safeguard the stability of the world economy and the international finance.

Berlusconi said Italy and China should have more cultural exchanges, adding that Italy will attend the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and host the 2015 World Expo, and it will exchange experience with China in this regard.

Hailing China's advocacy on building a harmonious world, he said Italy valued China's role in the international affairs and would work with China to deal with the financial crisis.