On December 9th, the reception celebrating 45th anniversary of establishment of China- Italy diplomatic relations was held in the Great Hall of the People by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Counties (CPAFFC). 200 guests from China and Italy, including Mr. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr. Pietro Grasso, President of the Senate of Italy, Mme. Chen Xiurong, Vice Chairperson of the Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the NPC, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of the CPAFFC, Mr. Ettore Francesco Sequi, Ambassador of Italy to China, attended the reception.

Mr. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, Making an address in the reception

Vice Chairman Zhang Ping said in his speech, both China and Italy are ancient civilizations nations and have a long history of exchanges. In recent years, the two countries have enjoyed a smooth development of political relations, characterized with a frequent exchange of high-level visits, an increasing strengthening mutual political trust, a fruitful outcome of the economic and trade cooperation and an expansion of the culture exchanges, which promote the cooperation to develop further in the fields of science, culture, education, environment and tourism. The Chinese side paid high attention to the development of the friendly cooperated relations with Italy and hoped to take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy diplomatic relations as an opportunity to make joint efforts with Italy to promote the bilateral ties to a new stage.

Mr. Pietro Grasso, President of the Senate of Italy, Making an address in the reception

President Pietro Grasso said, Italy and China are traditional friendly countries. Both countries have been promoting the exchanges and cooperation in various fields for many years which mutually benefited the two countries and peoples. He also expressed, Italy would actively support and participate in the great plan made by the Chinese President Xi Jingping on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road in the 21st Century. Italy would like to enhance the cooperation with China in the fields of the cultural heritage, local governments, high-tech and environmental protection and etc., so as to promote the relations between the two countries to continuously move forward. 

The Orchestra Band of Beijing Xicheng Foreign Languages School playing China and Italy’s music in the reception