International economic crises, the European calendar and strengthening ties between Italy and China were the main topics of discussion in a meeting today between Minister Giulio Terzi and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Song Tao.
Prospects for further strengthening both political and economic relations between the two countries recently, confirmed at maximum level by the visit to China of Prime Minister Mario Monti, were examined in today’s meeting, at which it was decided to hold a meeting of the Bilateral Governmental Committee in the autumn. The Committee, set up to handle Italo-Chinese relations and which has, since 2011 extended the dialogue to global themes, will also have to renew and update the triennial action plan whose objectives are to bring trade levels that stood in 2011 at €51.3 billion to €80 billion by the end of 2015.
Minister Terzi and Deputy Minister Song also discussed some of the important dates on the European calendar, beginning with the meeting of heads of state and government of Italy, France, Germany and Spain in Rome on 22 June and the European Council meeting scheduled for 28 and 29 June.
Reviewing the principal issues of security and development on the various international stages, Minister Terzi expressed the hope that forms of collaboration can be set up, especially on the African continent, which Italy considers particularly key.
