The 12th session of the “Italy–China Intergovernmental Committee” is taking place today at Villa Madama, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The Committee is the main instrument for advancing the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” launched in 2004. Its purpose is to promote cooperation across the various areas of the Partnership by bringing together representatives of the relevant Italian and Chinese public administrations. The meetings are held alternately in Italy and China; the previous session took place in Beijing on 4 September 2023.
Thanks to the Strategic Partnership and the continued commitment of the Italian Government, relations between Italy and China have progressively strengthened, now encompassing a broad range of sectors. These are outlined in the Three-Year Action Plan adopted last year during the visit to China by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Today’s meeting provides an opportunity to take stock of bilateral relations and further enhance cooperation in several fields, particularly economic and trade relations. Both sides reaffirm their shared commitment to intensifying and rebalancing trade exchanges by gradually removing barriers that limit market access and hinder the full potential of the two economies.
Three thematic working groups will focus respectively on: economic and financial issues; culture and civil society; science, technology and higher education.
Ministers Tajani and Wang Yi will also hold bilateral talks on matters of cooperation and on the main international crises.
Following the session, the two Ministers will attend a working lunch with their delegations and a group of Italian entrepreneurs, including Enrico Marchi (SAVE), Lamberto Frescobaldi (Unione Italiana Vini), Roberto Vavassori (ANFIA), Federico Bricolo (Verona Fiere), Elena Zambon (Zambon Pharma), Luigi Scordamaglia (Filiera Italia), and Paolo Mascarino (Federalimentare).
