Although Italy and China established diplomatic relations only 40 years ago, culturally the two empires, located at opposite ends of the Silk Road, have known each other for 2,000 years, Fan Di'an, dean of the National Art Museum of China, said at a press conference in Beijing, where the Chinese Culture Year in Italy was announced on Sept 29.

A visitor looks at artifacts from 17th century Italy during an exhibition about Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit priest and cultural ambassador who lived in China from 1582 until his death in 1610. The exhibition featured in this file photo was held in June and July at the Nanjing Museum in Jiangsu province. [China Daily]

The cultural event will begin on Oct 7 with a concert performed by the China Philharmonic Orchestra at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Premier Wen Jiabao and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will attend the opening concert.

Dong Junxin, director of the bureau for external cultural relations at the Ministry of Culture, said the yearlong event will be the largest cultural activity China has launched in Europe following the Chinese Culture Year in France in 2003 and the Europalia China Arts Festival in Belgium in 2009.

"Italy and China both have great history, splendid art and each country has made a significant contribution to world civilization," Dong said.

"Ever since we established a diplomatic relationship in 1970, we've sought to develop all aspects of exchange and communication. The Chinese Culture Year in Italy will be our largest event to date.

"It is not only a platform for showcasing the diversity of Chinese culture to enable the Italians to know more about the Chinese," he explained. "It is also an opportunity to display a confident, open-minded and diverse China."

Riccardo Sessa, Italian ambassador to China, said the Italians and, indeed, many Europeans, knew about China through Marco Polo's pioneering journey to Asia in the 13th century.