Italian President Sergio Mattarella visited an exhibition in Beijing on Friday morning that commemorates the famous Venetian merchant and explorer Marco Polo's journey on the Silk Road in the 13th century.
Marco Polo remains a household name in China for his contributions to fostering cultural exchanges between East and West.
The exhibition features 135 pieces of treasures from Chinese and Italian museum collections, ranging from manuscripts and oil paintings to sculptures and jewels dating from the 13th to 20th centuries.
Leading the exhibits is The Travels of Marco Polo, a groundbreaking 13th-century narrative that brought the Chinese landscape, society and culture to European readers.
Mattarella concluded his visit by donning VR goggles to have an immersive experience that traced Macro Polo's legendary journey along the Silk Road.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy and the 700th anniversary of the adventurer's passing.
Mattarella is on a state visit to China from Nov 7 to 12, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping.
His China trip comes after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's five-day visit to the country in July, when the two sides issued a 2024-2027 action plan to strengthen partnership.
The exhibition is running from July 26 to Nov 24.
Italian president visits Marco Polo exhibition in Beijing
Italian president visits Marco Polo exhibition in Beijing
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit
