The China-Italy Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Fair
opened in Guangzhou on Friday, with Italian Prime Minister Romano
Prodi hailing it as an important opportunity to boost economic ties
between the two countries.
"I am heading a large delegation here to promote the Italy-China
partnership," Prodi said at the opening ceremony.
Prodi is leading a business delegation of about 700
entrepreneurs in finance, industry and trade.
"The fair provides a good platform for SMEs in both countries to
step up cooperation and seek common benefits," Chinese Vice Premier
Zeng Peiyan said.
Zeng said Prodi's presence at the fair demonstrated the great
importance Italy has attached to boosting cooperation between SMEs
from Italy and China.
"Hopefully the SMEs in both countries can work together to
combine China's human resources and manufacturing capabilities with
Italy's strength in technology and design," Zeng said.
Prodi said Italy welcomes more Chinese companies to develop
trade ties with Italy, following his comments on Thursday when he
said Italy would like to become "the gateway for China to enter the
market of the European Union."
More than 4,000 Chinese companies and 760 Italian companies are
showcasing their work and products at the fair.
Invited by Premier Wen Jiabao, Prodi's six-day official visit is
the first top-level one from Italy since the former Italian
President, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, made a visit in December 2004.
Prodi's visit comes during China-Italy year, which involves a
wide range of activities on trade, culture and science.
The China-Italy trade volume hit US$13.4 billion from January to
July this year, up 24 percent from the same period last year,
according to statistics from China Customs.
Prodi's trip will also take him to the port city of Tianjin, the
eastern city of Nanjing as well as Shanghai and Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2006)
