The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade built in 1865 in the center of Milan.

With Milan, capital of the Lombardy region, set to host the next World Expo in 2015, officials are studying methods used in Shanghai to include a wide range of stakeholders.

The Milan Expo will have food as its theme and explore the ideal that everyone on the planet should have access to food that is healthy, safe and sufficient.

"With a view to the 2015 Expo, the Shanghai event is an opportunity to examine the methods adopted to involve small and medium-sized enterprises, collecting the best practices," said Roberto Formigoni, governor of the Lombardy region.

Lombardy in the north of Italy is ranked as one of the most innovative regions in the Mediterranean.

With a population of about 10 million and generating 20 percent of the nation's total GDP, it is the most populous and prosperous region in Italy.

Its economic strength is complemented by natural beauty with parks and nature reserves covering a fifth of its land - and a vast human legacy that dates to prehistoric times.

"We are back in China after the missions of 2002 and 2004 to further develop cooperation in technological innovation, scientific research, energy and welfare reform," Formigoni said as he arrived with 120 entrepreneurs, artisans and energy professionals.

China is the fourth-largest trading partner for Lombardy, with 6.96 billion euros ($9.67 billion) in imports from China and 2.3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) in exports.

The governor said cooperation in welfare reform and management is also a highlight of his trip.

According to official statistics, there are now 170 million people over the age of 60 in China, along with 20 million over 80 and 30,000 who are at least 100 years old - all part of a globally aging population.

"Lombardy has already cooperated with China on collaborative projects in welfare, particularly assisting elderly people," said Formigoni.

Formigoni added that stronger collaboration is also underway to develop advanced welfare models and social networks in China.

Among the many sites for which Lombardy is famous are national parks where sports aficionados challenge nature and glamorous lake resorts where Hollywood stars make holiday, as well as cathedrals, castles and music fests when the region hosts European high society.

Visitors are also captivated by Lombardy's artistic heritage of 300 museums and 300,000 works of art.

Among them is The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which has been viewed by more than 2.6 billion people.