Italy aims to streamline processes for companies exporting goods to China and those seeking to invest there, foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday during a visit to the Asian country.
"We want to accelerate procedures to aid the exportation of Italian goods," Di Maio told reporters in Shanghai, where he is attending the second China International Import Expo (CIIE).
"There are major companies that would like to invest here but which are still hampered by difficulties with certification and non-tariff obstacles," he said.
An Italian delegation was holding meetings with China's foreign minister Wang Yi and its trade minister on Monday, said Di Maio.
"Tomorrow we will accelerate certain processes that need to be at the centre of our bilateral relations," Di Maio said.
Italy and China are working on a key accord in the rice sector and also for beef, "which we have asked to be speeded up," he stated.
A total 160 Italian companies are taking part in CIIE where a national pavilion has been set up to promote typical Italian goods, according the foreign ministry.
During their talks on Monday, Di Maio and Wang agreed to develop joint initiatives in China and in third markets and to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers to help market Italian goods.
Di Maio also visited the headquarters of Italian robotics firm Comau, the foreign ministry tweeted.
