This aerial view taken on June 16, 2023 shows a container ship berthing at the Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality.Photo:Xinhua

 
China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao conducted "friendly, candid and pragmatic talks" with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani during the latter's China visit last week, with multiple consensuses on improving the level of bilateral trade were reached, a spokesperson of China's Commerce Ministry said on Thursday.

Tajani, also the Italian Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, concluded his official visit to China on Tuesday. He attended the 11th Joint Meeting of the China-Italy Government Committee on Monday, together with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

The two sides have reached many consensuses on further improving the level of bilateral trade and facilitating mutual investment. China is willing to work with Italy to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, continuously tap the potential of trade and investment, further enrich the results of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and promote greater development of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, He Yadong, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), told a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

In March 2019, China and Italy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly advance the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Tajani's visit came as some Western media outlets alleged that Italy was considering not renewing the BRI agreement with China.

In response to questions regarding Italy's status on BRI, He said China and Italy are at both ends of the ancient Silk Road, and the two countries have extensive common interests and a profound foundation for cooperation. 

In recent years, bilateral trade has reached new heights, reaching nearly $80 billion last year, the official said. 

Italy has served as the guest country of honor at the China International Import Expo and Winter Expo. This year, it also participated in the third China International Consumer Products Expo as the only guest country. The two countries continue to create new highlights in the fields of shipbuilding, offshore wind power, new energy transformation, and third-party market cooperation. This has brought tangible benefits to peoples of both countries, He noted.

A strategic partnership between Italy and China would be more valuable than a deal such as the BRI, Tajani said on Wednesday addressing Italian Parliament, according to a Reuters report.

Chinese experts noted that the Italian side, whether it is seeking more benefits from cooperating with China or under US diplomatic pressure, should comprehensively and objectively view the role of the BRI in the development of bilateral relations.