Chinese spirit represents openness, reflects global vision: Italian president

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Chinese spirit represents openness, reflects global vision: Italian president

2024-12-14 14:32 Last Updated At：16:47

The Chinese spirit represents openness and the willingness to have an in-depth exchange with other civilizations, which reflects the Asian nation's global vision, said Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

In an exclusive interview with the China Media Group (CMG) aired on Friday, Mattarella highlighted the enduring legacy of Marco Polo, the famous Venetian merchant and explorer, who has long served as a cultural ambassador between Italy and China, fostering a deep appreciation for Chinese culture among young people in Italy.

"For all Italian students, reading The Travels of Marco Polo is their first encounter with Chinese and Eastern culture. As a student, I delved deeper into certain aspects, partly because Italy is very deeply fascinated by China, especially in the realm of art. Chinese taste and style have always been greatly admired in Europe, but particularly so in Italy. This has naturally given rise to a sense of love for China, a constant interest in what happens in this great country," he said.

The Italian president also offered insights into the evolution of the world and countries, highlighting that openness and the willingness to cooperate form the essence of the Chinese spirit.

"The world is never the same as itself, and no country remains identical to its past. It evolves, grows and develops. Yet, what I always find unchanged is the Chinese spirit, just as in Italy the Italian spirit endures. It is a spirit of openness, of willingness to cooperate. It also reflects the ability to capitalize on the historical experiences through contact with many other civilizations and cultures. This is what provides a truly significant foundation for a country, one that then translates into a country's political choices because it shapes its worldview and an understanding of its place in the world," Mattarella said.

Middle East conflict drives up energy costs: European Commission president

The Middle East conflict has imposed heavy economic costs on Europe, driving up energy prices and adding billions of euros to import bills, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

"Since the beginning of the conflict, gas prices have risen by 50 percent and oil prices by 27 percent," von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

She said 10 days of war had already cost European taxpayers an extra 3 billion euros (3.48 billion U.S. dollars) for fossil fuel imports.

Von der Leyen said the European Commission is assessing additional measures to lower energy bills, including a possible cap on gas prices.

She said the EU had diversified its fossil fuel supplies in recent years, but "this does not mean that we are immune to price shocks. Energy markets are global."

The surge marks the second time in recent years that geopolitical conflict has triggered sharp rises in EU energy costs, following the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.

The commission is also pushing nuclear power to boost production and cut prices. Von der Leyen announced on Tuesday a 200 million euro (231.75 million dollar) EU guarantee to support private investment in innovative nuclear technologies.

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen urged member states on Tuesday to cut energy taxes where possible, particularly on electricity, to lower consumer bills.

The commission on Tuesday also unveiled a Clean Energy Investment Strategy aimed at channeling private financing into power grids, clean energy technologies and energy efficiency.