On October 7, 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome.
Wen said that China-Italy relations have developed stably and the bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all fields achieved fruitful results since the two countries established diplomatic ties 40 years ago. Among the EU member states, Italy is very active to develop the bilateral relations with China and to promote the development of China-EU relations. China is willing to strengthen the high-level exchanges and the dialogue at various levels, enhance the political mutual trust, expand the pragmatic cooperation and reinforce the communications and coordination in such international organizations as the UN with Italy. The two countries should be good friends and partners who respect and support each other and grow together.
He noted that China-Italy pragmatic cooperation enjoys a sound foundation, covers a wide range of areas and has huge potential. He suggested to:
First, expand trade and investment cooperation and try to double the bilateral trade volume to US$100 billion within 5 years. Italian companies are welcomed to increase investment in China. The two countries should step up efforts of intellectual property protection and solving trade and investment disputes and jointly oppose trade and investment protectionism.
Second, develop key China-Italy environmental protection projects, cooperate to develop China's environmental emergency response system and national environmental risk assessment and emergency response mechanism, build the China-Italy environment technological exchange and promotion center and make the bilateral cooperation on environmental protection the model of China-EU cooperation.
Third, stimulate innovation cooperation. The two sides should carefully implement the agreement on technological and innovation cooperation, encourage new and high-tech industries to locate in the China-Italy science and technology park, jointly set up the China-Italy technology transfer center in China’s new and high-tech industrial parks, discuss the establishment of China-Italy industrial design and creativity joint research centre and jointly explore a mutually beneficial and win-win path of innovation cooperation.
Fourth, strengthen financial cooperation. China is willing to step up coordination with Italy and effectively use the loans of Italy so as to encourage relevant Italian companies to invest in China while benefiting the Chinese side.
Fifth, conduct rich cultural exchanges and make the Year of Chinese Culture a grand event of enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. The two sides should cement cooperation in the fields of co-producing film and television programs, broadcasting each other’s TV shows and helping each other shoot TV programs. China supports Italy to successfully host the 2015 Milan World Expo.
Berlusconi said that China successfully coped with the international financial crisis, maintained stable and rapid economic growth and made major contributions to the recovery of world economy. He noted that China is the best investment market and enjoys big potential. He expressed full agreement on Wen’s cooperation suggestions and indicated that Italy will coordinate with China closely to promote the all-round progress of bilateral friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in order to better benefit their people.
Prior to the meeting, Berlusconi held a grand welcome ceremony for Wen.
After the meeting, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on economy, science and technology, culture and justice. Both sides released the action plan to strengthen economic cooperation. The two leaders also jointly met the representatives of Chinese and Italian entrepreneurs.