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.