In 2021, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the People’s Republic of China and the Italian Republic maintained a sound momentum of growth, with exchanges and cooperation deepening in various fields.

The two countries enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges. In September, Presidengt Xi Jinping spoke with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on the phone. In May, Premier Li Keqiang took a phone call from Prime Minister Draghi. In June and August, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had two telephone conversations with Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio. In October, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 16th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome as President Xi Jinping’s special representative and visited Italy. During the visit, he met with Prime Minister Draghi and held talks with Foreign Minister Di Maio. In June, National Secretary of the Italian Communist Party Mauro Alboresi, National Secretary of the Italian Communist Refoundation Party Maurizio Acerbo and International Secretary of the Italian Democratic Party Lia Quartapelle sent congratulatory letters on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

Bilateral exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields yielded fruitful outcomes. Over the year, two-way trade increased by 34.1% year on year, hitting an all-time high. In September, the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy held the 14th Session of the China-Italy Joint Commission for Economic and Trade Cooperation via video link. In December, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Ministry of University and Research of Italy held the 11th China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation Week in a hybrid format. In November, Prime Minister Draghi attended the fourth China International Import Expo virtually, and over 100 Italian companies participated in the expo. Competent authorities of the two countries reached agreement on the Second Round of Key Project List of Third-Party Market Cooperation, including 14 projects in such areas as petroleum, chemical industry and finance. As the hosts of the Winter Olympic Games in 2022 and 2026, China and Italy supported each other in holding the Games and carried out close cooperation in the World Winter Sports (Beijing) Expo in 2021, which was atteneded by 20 Italian companies.