President Xi Jinping talked about deepening traditional friendship between China and Italy while meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Beijing on Friday.
"Mr. President, you are welcome to pay a state visit to China once again after an interval of seven years. You are the Chinese people's old friend and also my good friend. In recent years, Mr. President and I have successfully exchanged visits, and remained in close communication through phone calls and correspondence. Every exchange could deepen our friendship and enhance our mutual trust," said Xi.
"This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership. In July, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid a successful visit to China, when the two sides issued an action plan to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership, and agreed to uphold the time-honored Silk Road spirit to advance bilateral relations into a new stage of development. I believe that Mr. President's current visit will inject even stronger impetus to the development of China-Italy relations at a new historical starting point, and bring greater benefits to the people of the two countries," said Xi.
"This year also marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death. As early as in the 13th century, this great Italian traveler could perceive and depict China without any prejudice, opening a door for the Western world to get to know about China, and inspiring generation after generation of friendly envoys to make outstanding contributions to exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. The world today is undergoing great changes unseen in a century. As two ancient civilizations, China and Italy should carry forward their traditions of openness and inclusiveness, push the international community to resolve differences through dialogs and transcend conflicts with cooperation, and join hands in building a beautiful world of harmonious coexistence," said Xi.
President Xi on deepening friendship with Italy
President Xi on deepening friendship with Italy
Yu Lei, chief director of the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, has shared how the cutting-edge robots and digital intelligence involved in the gala defined this year's cultural performances and celebrations in the grand event staged and aired live on Monday night -- the eve of the 2026 Chinese New Year.
As various robots took to the stage, the 2026 Spring Festival Gala virtually transformed digital intelligence from a distant concept into a vivid companion for people, reflecting how deeply technology has permeated modern life. In an interview with China Central Television, Yu explained that this year's production was designed to mark a milestone in technological creativity.
"We have robots performing in sketches, martial arts, dances, and even micro-films. As the curtain rises on this year's Spring Festival Gala, there are so many innovations belonging to this era, showing that technology has truly entered our lives. Riding this trend, I hope this year's gala can open a 'Year of Tech Innovation' or a 'Year of Digital Intelligence,'" Yu said.
A key highlight of this digital theme is the song "Intelligent Future" (Zhi Zao Wei Lai), which focuses on the tangible progress experienced by the general public rather than abstract industrial achievements. "We also have the song 'Intelligent Future,' which represents the era of technological innovation and the idea of digital intelligence I wanted to present at this year's Spring Festival Gala. Putting these ideas into a song really shows that technology has truly integrated into people's daily lives. When you listen to the lyrics, you'll find they're all about everyday life. We're not singing about large-scale manufacturing, aerospace, or military industries. Instead, we're singing about the progress of the digital age that ordinary people can experience and connect with in their daily lives," she said.
Beyond the entertainment value, the director emphasized that the gala serves as a platform to make the dimensions of the tech industry clearer and more accessible to the public, potentially driving broader interest in the sector.
"Through different expressions and works in the gala, we wish to make the facets of this industry more vivid and distinct. I believe this is what the audience members are curious about and expect to see. If one of our works can drive the boom of an industry or spark wide-spread attention to a specific field, I believe that is the greatest honor for all creators," Yu added.
The gala, aired on Chinese New Year's Eve on Feb 16 this year, blended traditional Chinese culture with modern stage production, while also including cross-cultural performances by artists from around the world. Commonly known as "Chunwan", the gala has been aired live every Chinese New Year’s Eve since 1983. It has even been certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s most-watched annual TV show.
2026 Spring Festival Gala ushers in new era of digital intelligence: chief director
