China-Italy symposium urges sci-tech cooperation

A symposium about the benefits of Sino-Italian cooperation in science and technology attracted around 100 attendees from the Chinese and Italian political and business communities on Tuesday in Milan, Italy.

The event, organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Italy, heard from representatives from Huawei and Italian businesses, including consulting company Ernst & Young, who shared views on science and technology issues, including enterprise business solutions, information technology architecture, and sustainable data collection center development.

Zhang Kaibin, deputy consul-general at China's Consulate-General in Milan, said at the meeting that sci-tech collaboration between China and Italy, which has already proven fruitful over the years, should be deepened.

China and Italy signed an intergovernmental agreement for scientific and technological cooperation in 1978, marking Italy as one of the first Western countries to establish a partnership with China in the sci-tech field, according to China's embassy in Italy.

In the framework of the agreement, notable results have been achieved in many areas, including aerospace, communication, information, energy, and more. For example, Zhangheng 1, the first Chinese seismo-electromagnetic satellite, was co-developed with Italy.

Zhang also highlighted that Sino-Italian trade ties have been strengthened in recent years, with the total trade volume between the two nations hitting a record high for the third consecutive year, which fully demonstrates that China and Italy are complementary economies that share a common interest in extensive business areas.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the bilateral trade volume between China and Italy totaled $77.9 billion in 2022, up 5.4 percent year-on-year. China remains Italy's largest trading partner in Asia, and Italy is China's fourth-largest trading partner in the European Union.

Wang Qing, chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Italy and CEO of Huawei's Italy branch, said he hoped mutual benefits for Chinese and Italian businesses can be produced through sharing, discussion, and cooperation.

The chamber will also continue to serve as a platform for fostering economic exchanges between Chinese and Italian businesses, Wang added.