Adolfo Urso, Italy's productive activities vice minister, announced a one-year project, named "Marco-Polo," Tuesday in Shanghai to boost trade between the two nations.

Beginning Thursday, the project will stage more than 200 activities, including fashion shows, a film week, gourmet food exhibition, and the regatta of Venetian gondolas.

"Marco-Polo" is expected to attract more Chinese tourists and investment to Italy, and promote Made-in-Italy products in China's huge domestic market, Urso said.

Italy expected more arrivals of Chinese tourists after May 1, when China and the European Union will launch new tourism cooperation.

In April, approximately 250 Italian tourism agencies and more than 500 Chinese counterparts will meet in Shanghai for cooperation discussion.

More than 100 Chinese companies have determined to attend a Sino-Italian investment seminar scheduled to be held in Rome in May.

"China is a world factory and she will also buy more," Urso said.

"Italy is ready to take China and her big market as a chance rather than a challenge," he said.

Italian Ambassador to China Gabriele Menegatti told Xinhua that Marco-Polo is only the beginning of a series of activities to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Italy is considering offering more direct flights linking the two countries, and increasing cooperation between the ports of the two countries, the ambassador said.

China is the third largest trade partner with Italy. And the "Marco-Polo" project is expected to make Italy's exports to China increase by about 20 percent annually.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2004)