DM Monitoring
ROME: China and Italy should build on the good momentum of their joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to push for new developments in their bilateral relations, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
The current European trip is the first overseas tour by a Chinese foreign minister since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, and Italy is the first stop, Wang said during a talk with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio. He said this arrangement shows the importance of China-Italy relations in China’s diplomacy, and the great value China attaches to its ties with Europe.
Noting that the pandemic is a common challenge facing all mankind, Wang said that solidarity and cooperation among all countries are the correct response.
In this regard, he added, China and Italy are at the forefront of the world, setting an example for international anti-pandemic cooperation.
Wang said his visit is a continuation of China-Italy solidarity in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and marks the beginning of bilateral efforts to deepen cooperation in the post-pandemic era. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, Wang said, adding that the two countries should take advantage of the momentum and push for new progress in bilateral relations.
The two sides, Wang said, should resume exchanges at all levels in an orderly manner, strengthen the intergovernmental cooperation mechanism, restart the landmark cooperation projects at an early date, formulate a new three-year action plan to strengthen practical cooperation and promote the comprehensive development of bilateral relations. China and Italy should also focus on Belt and Road cooperation, he said, urging the two countries to make good use of the fast track for personnel exchanges, accelerate work and production resumption, hold the China-Italy Belt and Road entrepreneurs conference next year, and promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road to achieve more visible results.
