China vows to advance all-round strategic partnership with Italy

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2010. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
China is ready to advance its strategic partnership with Italy, President Hu Jintao said in Beijing Tuesday.
Hu made the remarks during talks with visiting Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
During their talks, the heads of state exchanged views and reached broad consensus on advancing the all-round strategic partnership.
Since the two countries established diplomatic links four decades ago, relations had withstood the test of history and continued to move forward, said Hu.
Recalling his state visit to Italy last year, Hu said he was glad at the progress the two countries had made in exchanges and cooperation over the past year. Hu welcomed Napolitano to China and thanked him for his hospitality during his visit to Italy in July last year.
Napolitano said he came to China with friendly feelings in heart. He said Hu's visit to Italy last year was very successful. Italy-China relations were enjoying sound development as high-level contacts and practical cooperation between the two sides made smooth progress.
Napolitano said he was willing to carry on the tradition of modern pioneers in East-West exchanges by working hard to learn more about China and continuously pushing forward Italy's relations with China. He specifically named Matteo Ricci, the 16th Century Italian priest who lived many years and died in China. Napolitano visited the burial place of the Jesuit priest Tuesday morning, which had been protected as a historic site in western Beijing.
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