The Italian Embassy in China confirms its commitment to support Italian agrofood companies interested in accessing the Chinese market. The 4th Italo-Chinese Dialogue on Food Safety took place today in Beijing. It represents an important forum of debate between high-level experts of the Italian Ministry of Health and of the China Food and Drug Administration, in addition to experts from Italian and Chinese research centres and think-tanks. The Dialogue, organised by the Italian Embassy, constitutes an important opportunity to promote Italian agrofood products as it offers the possibility of illustrating to the Chinese authorities in charge of authorising our exports the high level reached by Italy in the area of food security and veterinary healthcare. After the past three annual editions of the Dialogue, respectively dedicated to olive oil, dairy products and pork meat, this year’s edition focused on beef, analysing Italian breeding, slaughtering, storage and distribution systems. Italian Ambassador Ettore Sequi said: “Italian food safety standards are offered to Chinese officials as a model with which to pursue a joint effort to exchange best practices. The aim is to improve quality and safety standards, remove remaining trade barriers and assure Italian agrofood products greater access to the Chinese market.” Ambassador Sequi went on to recall: “In Italy, food safety is a crucial policy decision closely linked to the national healthcare system because good health begins precisely with a healthy diet and therefore with an adequate control of agrofood products.” In order to illustrate the sanitary conditions of breeding farms and the quality and safety of Italian beef, the Ministry of Health sent to Beijing Directors General Silvio Borrello and Giuseppe Ruocco, accompanied by experts from their respective Directorates General and from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Turin (Italian public research organization for animal health and food safety). Mr Ruocco and Mr Borrello emphasised how scientific research, advanced food safety legislation and a strict and effective control system have enabled Italy to acquire a tradition of good practices that is unique in the world. The so-called “One Health” approach, adopted by Italy from the very beginning, enables Italy to offer excellence and quality thanks to a safe food processing industry and agrofood products that promise to be increasingly appreciated by Chinese consumers.