Italy is ready to expand consultation and co-operation with China on a number of issues and hopes the two countries will be able to cultivate a closer economic relationship in the coming years, Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato said Monday.

During a meeting with Premier Zhu Rongji held in Beijing, Amato explained that the Italian Government would continue pressing for China's early entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The Italian PM also conveyed the willingness of the Italian Government to continue with high-level governmental visits between the two countries and said he would also keep encouraging the business community in Italy to actively participate in China's economic development.

Amato said Italian enterprises were excited about the great potential of the market in China and were willing to invest in the country.

Zhu praised Italy's support for China's entry to the WTO, saying that new progress has been made in bilateral relations in recent years, and direct exchanges and contacts at all levels had injected new momentum into the development of the friendship.

According to the premier, economic and trade ties between Italy and China have been developing rapidly, and Italian investment in China is on the rise. Bilateral exchanges in various sectors are now more numerous and are being conducted in a more diversified form.

Beyond economics, Zhu noted, the two nations have maintained sound co-operation in the international political arena.

Italy is one of China's most important European Union trade partners, especially in the realm of electronics and high-technology. From 1981 to 1998, China introduced 1,262 technological projects from Italy, involving US$7.719 billion. Italy has been second only to Germany among EU nations in electronic and technology trading.

Zhu said China places great importance on developing its relations with Italy and appreciates the Italian Government's consistent adherence to the one-China policy and its support of dialogue, as opposed to confrontation on human rights issue.

China is willing to work with Italy to better bilateral relations and co-operation in the future, specifically in terms of issues such as illegal immigration and organized crime, Zhu said.

(China Daily 01/16/2001)