Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is greeted by an Italian senior official at an airport in Rome on Tuesday. Li is on an official visit to Italy. [Photo by Li Xueren/Xinhua]

ROME - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived here Tuesday for an official visit to Italy at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

He said upon arrival that China and Italy, two cradles and excellent examples of East and West civilizations, have inherent advantages and a solid basis for bilateral cooperation.

Since they established a comprehensive strategic partnership 10 years ago, Li said, the two countries have pushed forward their relations on a fast lane.

Li said he hopes to conduct in-depth exchange of views with Italian leaders on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, and inject new vigor into the practical cooperation on various fronts, so as to map out a brighter future for the China-Italy partnership.

During his visit to Italy, a friendly partner of China in Europe and a key member of the European Union, Li is expected to meet with President Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and other Italian leaders.

Li and Renzi will also meet business leaders from both countries and attend a conference of the China-Italy innovation week.

During Li's visit, the two countries are expected to issue a joint declaration and sign about 20 agreements. China and Italy will also promote investment and cooperation between their small and medium-sized enterprises.

On Oct 15, the eve of World Food Day, Li will visit the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome for the first time.

Li is scheduled to deliver a speech at FAO, showing that China attaches great importance to international cooperation in non-conventional security fields.

It has been widely recognized that China's achievements in food security and poverty reduction have made huge contribution to global efforts to these ends.

Li will also attend the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Milan from Oct 16 to 17, at the invitation of President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Italian Prime Minister Renzi and President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso.

As a focus of Li's Europe tour, the ASEM summit will see more efforts by China to push for deeper cooperation and enhanced mutual trust between Asia and Europe.

This will be the first time for the Chinese premier to attend the ASEM summit since he took office last year.

Li left Moscow earlier Tuesday after holding the 19th China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting with his counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

Italy is the last stop of Li's three-nation Europe tour, which has taken him to Germany and Russia.