China, Italy to boost cooperation under Belt and Road Initiative

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano on Monday, agreeing to boost cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano attend the closing ceremony of the eighth joint meeting of the China-Italy Government Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 18, 2017. Wang held talks with Alfano on Monday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Both sides agreed to launch consultations to sign an intergovernmental cooperation document as soon as possible and to formulate a guideline and project list for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to Wang.

The two foreign ministers support China and Italy to have more cultural exchanges, carry out innovation-oriented cooperation and forge closer partnerships among their small and medium enterprises.

They expressed their commitment to upholding multilateralism, building an open world economy and forging mutually beneficial, fair and win-win state-to-state relations.

Wang said China will work with Italy to contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Alfano is on an official visit to China from Dec. 17 to 19. After their talks, the two foreign ministers attended the closing ceremony of the eighth joint meeting of the China-Italy Government Committee.