On the afternoon of July 28, 2024, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council held talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who is on an official visit to China.

Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership, Li Qiang said that over the past 20 years, the two sides have continued to consolidate political mutual trust, achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation and expanded trade and investment, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples. President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to jointly draw up a blueprint for the future development of China-Italy relations. China is ready to work with Italy to deliver on the important common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, inherit and carry forward the tradition of friendship between the two countries, fully advance exchanges and cooperation in various areas, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and make greater contributions to global peace and development.

Li Qiang pointed out that China is ready to work with Italy to further strengthen political mutual trust, push bilateral relations toward a more mature and stable direction, and foster more positive expectations for deepening cooperation between the two countries. Li Qiang called on the two sides to make good use of the China-Italy Government Committee and dialogue platforms in various fields, promote trade optimization and development while continuously expanding bilateral trade, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in fields such as shipbuilding, aviation and aerospace, new energy and artificial intelligence, as well as between small and medium-sized enterprises. China will work with Italy to host a series of activities commemorating the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, and continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation in literature and art, film and television, education and other fields. China supports Chinese companies to invest and conduct cooperation in Italy and hopes that Italy will provide a fair, safe and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies and provide more convenience for Chinese citizens to travel to Italy. Protectionism cannot protect competitiveness, and only opening up and cooperation can bring about mutual benefits and win-win results. Li Qiang expressed the hope that the European Union (EU) will view China's development in an objective and rational way, continue to see China as a partner, stay committed to dialogue and cooperation to promote the steady and sound development of China-EU relations, and jointly address global challenges.

Giorgia Meloni said that in recent years, the two countries have maintained close high-level interactions as well as exchanges at all levels and in various fields, which has strongly promoted the development of Italy-China relations. Italy is committed to developing a long-term, stable and sound relationship with China and is ready to deepen practical cooperation with China in economy, trade, investment, industry, science and technology, culture and other fields. Taking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death as an opportunity, Italy is ready to build a bridge of friendship, explore new ways of cooperation, unleash cooperation potential, build a closer cooperative relationship, and promote further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Italy is ready to play a positive role in the candid dialogue between the EU and China and in fostering a more stable cooperative relationship.

After the talks, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on industry, education, environmental protection, geographical indications and food safety.

Prior to the talks, Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony for Giorgia Meloni at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wu Zhenglong attended the above activities.