On November 8, 2019, Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with Ettore Francesco Sequi, the Italian Ambassador to China who is to leave his post.

Qin Gang spoke positively of Ettore Francesco Sequi's contributions to promoting China-Italy friendship and the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative during his tenure, and encouraged him to continue to care for and support the development of China-Italy relations. Ettore Francesco Sequi thanked the Chinese side for offering support and convenience for his fulfillment of duty and expressed the willingness to continue to contribute to propelling bilateral friendship.