Creating a permanent dialogue between Italian and Chinese entrepreneurs: this is one of the central themes of the fourth edition of the Italy-China Business Forum (BFIC), which took place in Beijing, chaired by the two co-presidents Marco Tronchetti Provera, Vice President Executive and CEO of Pirelli, and by Tian Guoli, President of Bank of China. The meeting, which takes place annually, took place on the occasion of the state visit of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and his meeting with the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jingping.
In the presence of President Sergio Mattarella and President Xi Jingping, the two co-presidents of the Italy-China Business Forum signed a joint declaration which renews and confirms the commitment of the Italy-China Business Forum in promoting the development of economic relations and the growth of two countries, through permanent dialogue between entrepreneurs, the involvement of the major trade associations and the launch of specific activities and projects of bilateral interest.
This, in the wake of what already happened with the Financial Forum organized by the Business Forum in Milan on 16 February last, also through the promotion of in-depth meetings on strategic issues such as health, technology and environmental sustainability, agri-food and safety food and aerospace and scientific research.
Furthermore, in line with the strategies adopted by the governments of the two countries, the commitment to develop new mechanisms for deeper cooperation is confirmed, in particular in relation to the implementation and execution of the "One Belt One Road" initiatives of the plan economic “Made in China 2025”.
The work of the fourth Business Forum was attended by Zhou Xiaoyan, director general of the Chinese ministry of commerce; Ivan Scalfarotto, Undersecretary for Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Economic Development; Zhang Yujing and Liu Chun, respectively president and vice president of the China Chamber of commerce for machinery and electronic products import and export; Licia Mattioli, vice president of Confindustria.
Representatives of some of the major Italian and Chinese entrepreneurial and institutional realities then met in the panels of the working sessions, such as Cassa depositi e prestiti, Leonardo, Fincantieri, State Grid Corporation of China, Shanghai Electric Group, Huawei Group, the Mechatronics group of Assolombarda, together with representatives of some of the most prestigious research and university centres, including Ispi, Qinghua University, the Milan Polytechnic and the Turin Polytechnic.
Ice and Confindustria actively supported all the activities, supported by the decisive contribution of the Italian Embassy and Ambassador Ettore Sequi in Beijing.
At the end of the works, more than 20 institutional and commercial agreements were signed. “My presidency of the Business Forum – Tronchetti Provera said – began just over a year ago and was characterized by a systemic valorisation of interests. Together with the co-president, Tian Guoli, we wanted to give the Forum a pragmatic approach, which sees the annual meetings of the Board of Directors be accompanied by projects specifically dedicated to the areas that we have identified as those of greatest common interest".
“The historical tradition and the spirit of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative originate in the collaboration between the Italian and Chinese people and in particular between the entrepreneurs of the two countries. We therefore believe it is crucial to inherit this spirit of collaboration and carry it forward,” said Tian Guoli.
