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China, Italy hold 'Silk Road friends' dialogue

By Chen Boyuan: 0 Comment(s)Print E-mail China.org.cn, March 26, 2015

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Delegates from Italy and China gathered in Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu Province on Thursday at the 2015 "Friends on the Silk Road" China-Italy Dialogue. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

Also see: Senior official meets with Italians on New Silk Road

Delegates from Italy and China gathered in Zhenjiang, east China's Jiangsu Province on Thursday at the 2015 "Friends on the Silk Road" China-Italy Dialogue to explore new potential for cooperation under the framework of the "Belt and Road" initiatives.

The "Belt and Road" initiatives, or the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Maritime Silk Road, were proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a bid to revive the ancient international routes, and to bring Asia and Europe closer together by perfecting connectivity in terms of both infrastructure and various types of exchanges.

The initiatives are meant for the welfare of all nations on the "Belt and Road." China and Italy, located on the two ends of the path, will naturally see opportunity for cooperation.

China and Italy have a long tradition of being good friends. Marco Polo and Matteo Ricci are among the first batch of famous Italian missionaries or merchants who set foot in China because of the Silk Road, which also facilitated the exchanges of goods – tea, porcelain and silk from China and jewelry, handicrafts and art products from Italy.

Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) delivers a keynote speech at the 2015 "Friends on the Silk Road" China-Italy Dialogue on Thursday, March 26, 2015 in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province. [Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

The two countries, since cementing their diplomatic relations 45 years ago, have good understanding of each other's politics, and are economically complementary and respectful of each other's culture, said Guo Yezhou, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC). "China-Italy bilateral ties are often recognized as a role model in China-Europe diplomatic ties," he said.

"However, in shaping the ‘Belt and Road,' China does not intend to create a geopolitical tool for regional hegemony but intends to open up new opportunities for cooperation for all countries involved," said Guo, "It will not be China's solo performance but a symphony participated in by all."

During the past fifteen years China has become the world's second largest economy in terms of GDP; the largest exporter of goods in the world; the second largest importer of goods in the world; the fourth largest exporter of services and the third largest importer of services. In 2010, the European Union became China's biggest commercial partner, a partnership worth more than 428 billion euros in 2013.

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