China's investments show faith in Italy, says Gentiloni

(AGI) Rome, May 5 - Current relations between Italy and China are in a "highly intense phase that's filled with opportunity", marked by "a collaboration that's increasingly structured, solid, and reciprocally fruitful", Italy's Foreign Minister, Paolo Gentiloni, said in his opening remarks at the launch of the Seventh Meeting of the Italy-China Government Committee on Thursday. Minister Gentiloni was joined by his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. Mr Gentiloni underlined, "Economic and commercial cooperation between our two nations reached 38.6 billion euros in trade in 2015." He noted that "China is Italy's third-largest supplier, and Italy is China's fourth-largest European supplier". Mr Gentiloni added that there is also "ample room for growth" and reiterated the common goal of a "progressive rebalancing of the trade balance". Particular emphasis is being placed on the sectors prioritised in the three-year action plan to strengthen Italy and China's economic cooperation, these being: environmental technology and sustainable development; agriculture and food safety; sustainable urbanisation; aviation and aerospace. The foreign minister said, "New opportunities will arrive with Beijing's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative, which aims to enhance maritime and infrastructural connections between Asia and Europe." Synergies on the 'New Silk Road' may also result from Italy's participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which Italy "was one of the first countries to join", Mr Gentiloni affirmed. But economic cooperation is not the only pillar in Italy and China's relations, he added, citing "advancements in our collaboration in the fields of science and technology, healthcare, agriculture and food safety, and the growing cultural ties and tourist flows". Collaboration in security and justice is also increasing, as demonstrated by the recent experiment that sees Chinese police officers patrolling major tourist spots in Rome. Italy and China can also count on the "solid foundations" in their political relations, exemplified by the "joint handling of numerous international issues, with important synergies in the United Nations and the G20". Mr Gentiloni expressed his conviction that it would be "useful and opportune for our two countries to continue to seek like-minded positions on the situations of crisis and instability, in the Mediterranean, on the issues of growth and employment, sustainable development, the migration emergency, the fight against terrorism, and climate change". He concluded by saying the areas in which "these common interests can result in joint efforts" is Africa, where China has a "consolidated presence" and where Italy can offer "know-how, the ability to innovate, and a long-term political vision." (AGI). .