Senior Chinese official vows to further ties with Italy

Rome: Chinese senior official Li Xi met with Italian leaders this week to deepen strategic ties, marking the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership and advancing cooperation in areas such as green energy and digital technology.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, met with Italy’s Senate President Ignazio La Russa and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome during his visit from Wednesday to Saturday at the invitation of the Italian Senate.

During the meetings, Li highlighted the enduring ties between China and Italy and called on both sides to advance the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in July.

Li emphasized cooperation through the “China-Italy Action Plan,” which aims to enhance political trust and collaboration in both existing and emerging sectors, such as green energy, the digital economy and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the importance of boosting people-to-people exchanges and coordinating efforts in multilateral arenas, including the United Nations and the Group of 20 (G20), to elevate China-Italy relations.

China and Europe share extensive common interests in upholding multilateralism, addressing climate change, and promoting global economic recovery, Li said, adding that China advocates resolving economic and trade issues through consultation based on pragmatic and balanced principles.

He urged the Italian side to view China-Europe economic and trade relations “with an open attitude and a long-term perspective” and to play a constructive role in consultations and negotiations between China and Europe.

China is willing to work with Italy and other European countries to promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations, he noted.

Li also praised the achievements of China’s anti-corruption campaign, which has bolstered public trust in the Party. He stated that China will continue to pursue a unique anti-corruption approach, leveraging institutional and legal strengths to build a system where officials “do not dare, cannot, and do not want to engage in corruption,” achieving both preventive and comprehensive governance.

China remains committed to sharing governance insights and enhancing anti-corruption cooperation with other countries, including Italy, Li noted.

La Russa spoke highly of the historic friendship between Italy and China, praising the CPC’s achievements in Party building and China’s modernization. He affirmed Italy’s readiness to enhance exchanges between legislative bodies and political parties.

Tajani emphasized China’s role as a vital economic partner, noting that Italy hopes to strengthen economic and trade exchanges with China, fostering a balanced and mutually beneficial relationship. He reiterated Italy’s commitment to open economic policies and to actively working towards resolving trade frictions between Europe and China through negotiations.

Italy also seeks to work with China to promote global peace and stability amid today’s challenges, he noted.

During his visit, Li also traveled to Venice to attend a cultural exchange event titled “Be a Contemporary Marco Polo, Build a New Bridge of Friendship,” commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s passing.