Italy will strive to boost its market presence in China and the "visibility and reputation" of Italian products there, foreign minister Luigi di Maio said Tuesday at the China International Import Expo(CIIE) in Shanghai.
"Italy will continue to work actively to consolidate its market position and to further increase the visibility and reputation of the 'Made in Italy' brand," Di Maio said, according to a foreign ministry statement.
In his address, Di Maio also "underlined the importance of international cooperation aimed at inclusiveness, sustainability and a level economic playing field," said the statement.
The CIIE was inaugurated by China's president Xi Jinping, who was presented with an 'Azzurri' national soccer jersey with his name on the back by Di Maio during a visit to the Italian pavilion.
"I am very honoured to be here and by the ties binding Italy and China," Xi stated.
"I eagerly await president Sergio Mattarella's visit," Xi added.
Xi was referring to a 2020 visit to China by Mattarella to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.
In an apparent sign of the importance China attaches to its ties with Italy, Di Maio was Xi's guest at a welcome banquet on Monday attended by heads of state and government including France's president Emmanuel Macron.
Di Maio announced the same day that he had clinched deals with China "that were long on ice" including agri-food sector agreements.
Italy earlier this year became the first western country to sign up to China's vast ‘Belt and Road infrastructure project linking Asia with Europe. The move riled the US and has caused concern in Europe.
