Photo: CGTN

ROME, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Tuesday that China and Italy should work together to plan for the development of Sino-Italian relations in the next 50 years.

He made the remarks while meeting the press together with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio after their talks.

Wang said this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, which is an important historical moment that connects the past and the future.

He attributed the steady and healthy development of Sino-Italian ties in half a century to three factors.

Firstly, as representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations, China and Italy always appreciate and learn from each other, respect the development path chosen by the people in the other country, and support each other's legitimate concerns on issues of core interests.

Secondly, as major economies in the world, both China and Italy have always adhered to the policy of opening up and developing mutually beneficial and win-win relationships.

Wang said China has become Italy's largest trading partner in Asia and Italy is the 4th largest trading partner of China in the European Union. China's direct investment in Italy has exceeded 10 billion U.S. dollars, and there are more than 6,000 investment projects in China from Italian investors.

Thirdly, as friends and partners, both sides always lend a helping hand when the other country encounters difficulties, said Wang, citing the touching stories between the two governments and two peoples during the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that hit southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2008, and this year's COVID-19 pandemic.

"Looking forward to the future, China and Italy should work together to plan for the development in the next 50 years," Wang said.

He noted that the joint construction of the Belt and Road should be an important driving force for deepening bilateral cooperation.

China and Italy are "natural partners" in the construction of the Belt and Road, since the two nations had been closely connected more than 1,000 years ago thanks to the ancient Silk Road, Wang said, adding that Italy became the first major Western country last year to sign an MOU on Belt and Road cooperation with China.

Since then, bilateral cooperation has generated major results in such fields as energy, construction of cruise ships and ports, as well as third-market development, Wang said.

He called on both countries to carry on the "Silk Road spirit" and involve more people of the two countries in the construction of the Belt and Road, so as to bring more visible achievements to relevant projects and inject new impetus to the development of the global economy.

Wang also called for joint efforts in promoting multilateralism and trade liberalization.

China and Italy are major countries responsible for world peace and development, so both countries should vigorously promote the process of multilateralism and trade liberalization, and maintain the safe operation of the global industrial chain and supply chain, said Wang.

Noticing Italy will assume the chairmanship of the G20 next year, Wang said China will actively support the work of Italy and make contributions to the reform of global governance in the post-pandemic period and the early recovery of the world economy.

Wang also called for promoting equal dialogue among different civilizations.

Facing the challenges and problems in the globalization and digitalization, China and Italy could set examples in promoting dialogue among different civilizations based on mutual learning and equal footing, and play a leading role in working out a viable solution to global governance, he said.

Both nations should also work with other countries to promote the principles of resolving differences through dialogue, replacing confrontation with cooperation, eliminating divisions with unity, and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang added.

Wang said his visit to Europe was the first made by the Chinese foreign minister since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Wang said, Italy being the first leg of his visit shows the importance of Sino-Italian relations in China's diplomacy. It also demonstrates the great attention China pays to its relations with Europe.

Wang said Sino-Italian relations have withstood the test of the pandemic. "Facing the impact of the pandemic, China has stood with Italy and other European countries firmly from the very beginning."

He recalled that when China was in the thick of the pandemic, Italy rapidly sent out special aircraft with anti-epidemic supplies. Italian President Sergio Mattarella even held a special concert in solidarity with China.

When COVID-19 broke out in Italy, Wang said, China felt the same way and responded to Italy's request by mobilizing large quantities of supplies and rushing to its aid. China also sent three teams of medical experts to the hardest-hit areas in Italy, sharing the experiences in fighting the pandemic unreservedly.

According to Wang, the mutual assistance between China and Italy comes from the long-standing friendship between the peoples of the two countries, and is based on the Chinese cultural tradition of helping others. It has nothing to do with politics or self-interest from beginning to end, he noted.

If there is still any talk of "politics of generosity", it's "an insult to the humanitarian spirit," he noted.

Wang said the sudden and unexpected outbreak of the pandemic hasn't hurt Sino-Italian ties, instead the bilateral ties have stood the test and strengthened, while playing a role in exploring international cooperation in containing the pandemic.

Italy is the first leg in Wang's first foreign tour as the COVID-19 epidemic eases. The official visit in Europe from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1 will also take him to the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany.