China Italy Photo: VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Beijing on Friday, saying the two countries should make joint efforts to build a world of harmonious coexistence.

Mattarella is in China for a state visit at the invitation of Xi.

The interactions at the presidential level between China and Italy have established a foundation for the development of bilateral relations, and the shared cultural exchanges and civilizational ties between the two countries could bolster their confidence in addressing challenges together, Chinese experts said.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said China and Italy, both ancient civilizations, should uphold their traditions of openness and inclusiveness, and encourage the international community to resolve differences through dialogue and rise above conflicts through cooperation, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Regarding relations between China and Europe, Xi said that China takes Europe as an important partner on the path toward realizing Chinese modernization. He urged the two sides to seek win-win cooperation and manage their differences properly to ensure that bilateral relations are more mature and stable, as duly expected.

"China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the European side to cope with global challenges, and hopes that Italy can play a positive role in this regard," Xi said.

"The Italian President's visit at this time sends a clear message that the relationship between China and Italy should remain stable and continue to evolve positively," Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.

Cui noted that despite the frequent changes in the Italian government, which sometimes result in shifts in its policy toward China, the stable interactions at the presidential level between China and Italy have, to a large extent, provided a stable support for China-Italy relations, which is a characteristic of the ties between the two countries.

The foundation of the relationship between China and Italy is robust, as both nations are ancient civilizations that highly value traditional friendship, Cui said. "The potential for cooperation between China and Italy in the economic and trade sectors is substantial, and the exchanges and collaborations in areas such as culture and tourism have flourished remarkably," he said.

Before Mattarella's trip, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid a visit to China in July, during which the two sides issued a 2024-2027 action plan on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Cui noted that Italy holds a generally positive attitude on strengthening its relationship with China and recognizes numerous opportunities for collaboration. As comprehensive strategic partners, China and Italy should align their efforts toward shared goals in development. "As long as the path and direction of cooperation are established, the two countries could overcome difficulties together," Cui said.

After the meeting, Xi and Mattarella jointly met with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing.

Mattarella's itinerary on Friday also included a visit to the China World Art Museum in Beijing to see the "Journey of Knowledge: The Travels of Marco Polo and Its Legacy between East and West" exhibition. Featuring 135 artifacts from cultural institutions in China and Italy, the exhibit traces cross-cultural exchanges from the 13th to the 20th century, CCTV reported. 

This year marks the 700th anniversary of the death of Italian explorer Marco Polo, who embarked on a trailblazing journey along the ancient Silk Road over seven centuries ago.

"The cultural exchanges between China and Italy have played a significant role in the advancement of bilateral relations," Cui said. Noting that the deep civilizational ties foster the development of China-Italy relations at a high level, Cui said the historical memories shared by the two countries give them greater confidence in tackling current challenges, and those may arise in the future.

The expert believes that the activities commemorating Marco Polo convey an appreciation for a spirit that reflects an interest in different civilizations and an open, mutually appreciative attitude toward each other's differences.

"This spirit is especially vital in today's world, where divisions and contradictions appear to be on the rise. It is precisely during these times that we need to emphasize that humanity can only advance civilization through ongoing communication and collaboration," Cui said.