Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China is ready to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Italy and forge a more stable and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Li made the remarks when meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the 20th Group of 20 (G20) Summit scheduled in South Africa's Johannesburg for Saturday and Sunday.
Noting this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Li said that in July last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with the Italian prime minister in Beijing, where they mapped out a strategic blueprint for deepening bilateral relations.
Over the past year, the two sides have actively implemented the important consensus reached between the two leaders, Li said, adding that China stands ready to work with Italy to further carry forward their traditional friendship.
China is willing to work with the Italian side to continuously promote two-way opening up, enhance connectivity and alignment in markets, industries and related areas, and promote balanced and optimized development of bilateral trade, Li said.
The Chinese premier expressed hope to build on the traditional strengths of cooperation between the two countries, expand exchanges and cooperation in emerging industries, and boost common development and prosperity.
China encourages more Italian companies to enter the Chinese market through platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China International Supply Chain Expo, Li said.
China also expects Italy to provide a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest in Italy, he added.
Li said both sides should enhance people-to-people exchanges in such areas as tourism, education, sports, youth and local cooperation, and facilitate personnel exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Italy within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the G20, build broader consensus and reinforce the international community's confidence and resolve in practicing multilateralism and consolidating multilateral mechanisms, Li said.
Meloni, for her part, said Italy-China relations enjoy a good momentum of development, with continuous bilateral exchanges at all levels and positive progress in practical cooperation.
She also said that Italy stands ready to take the opportunity of celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries to step up the implementation of the action plan on strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership, deepen cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology and other fields, and promote people-to-people exchanges by giving full play to such mechanisms as the Italy-China Government Committee and the bilateral mixed commission on economic cooperation.
Italy welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Italy, and encourages Italian businesses to continue investing in China, she said.
Meloni added that her country is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China on multilateral platforms and jointly uphold multilateralism.
China ready to enhance strategic alignment with Italy: Premier Li
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
