On November 27, 2012 in local time, Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attended China-Italy Dinner Banquet co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy in Rome and delivered a keynote speech. The banquet was attended by over 200 officials and entrepreneurs from both countries including Italian Minister of Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) Corrado Clini, Italian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Massimo Vari and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

In his speech, Jia Qinglin said that China and Italy, as two ancient civilizations, enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges. Since China and Italy established diplomatic relations in 1970, the political relations between the two countries continued to grow, especially since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2004, the bilateral relations entered the best period of development in history. The economic and trade relations between China and Italy have maintained a good momentum of development. Italy has become China's fifth largest trading partner in the European Union while China has become Italy's largest trading partner in Asia and the third largest source of imports. The two sides have carried out effective cooperation in investment. The development of economic and trade relations has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Jia said that the recent meeting of the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a very important meeting held in China at a decisive stage when China is entering a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. The meeting summed up the course of development in the past 10 years, formulated action programs, fundamental policies and strategic plans that meet the requirements of the times and the aspirations of the people, and made strategic deployments for comprehensively pushing forward China's reform, opening up and socialist modernization. In the past 10 years, China firmly captured and took advantage of the important strategic opportunities for development; China overcame a series of major challenges and made a series of historic achievements, which laid a solid foundation for building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. Looking into the future, China will earnestly implement the spirit of the 18th CPC National Congress, march on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics in a steadfast manner and fulfill the ambitious goal of becoming a moderately prosperous society in all aspects by 2020.

Jia stressed that China will unswervingly follow the road of peaceful development and firmly pursue the independent foreign policy of peace; China will adhere to combining the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of the people of other countries and will participate in international affairs in a more positive attitude; China will play a role as a responsible big country, work jointly with other countries to address global challenges, and continue to promote the lofty cause of human peace and development.

Jia pointed out that the profound impact of the international financial crisis is still spreading and the European sovereign debt issue is undergoing ups and downs, which increased uncertainty to the world economic recovery. Jia expressed the belief that Europe has the ability and wisdom to properly deal with the debt issue and will emerge with new vigor and vitality. China, as a trusted friend and partner of EU, supports the package of counter measures taken by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund and has taken concrete actions to provide the assistance to the best of its ability for European countries to withstand the crisis. China is willing to work with the EU and make unremitting efforts to promote the sustained and steady growth of the world economy.

Jia said that the two economies are highly complementary to each other. Italy leads the world in technology, technique, design, and innovation while China has a significant advantage in labor force, capital and market size. The crisis cannot cover up the potentials for cooperation while the distance cannot isolate the enthusiasms for cooperation. He put forward a four-point proposal on deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation in the new situation:

First, to promote the balanced development of bilateral trade. China will expand imports of Italian fashion products, agricultural products, precision instruments and other competitive products. China hopes that Italy could promote the EU to relax export controls over high-tech products to China, exercise trade remedy measures with caution and make joint efforts with China to achieve balanced development of bilateral trade.

Second, to expand the depth and breadth of two-way investment. China hopes that the Italian investors could pay more attention to China's central and western regions, tap the potentials of inland regions, increase investment to sustainable development including energy conservation and environmental protection and expand new areas of investment. China will strongly encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest in Italy and combine each other's advantages in capitals and technological innovation.

Third, to deepen exchanges and cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The two sides should further strengthen cooperation in the fields of clean energy, creative design, goods circulation and services outsourcing and take practical actions to promote exchanges and cooperation between SMEs in technology, technique, design and other areas.

Fourth, to focus on cooperation in infrastructure. China encourages and supports Chinese engineering and construction companies to participate in the Italian infrastructure projects through structural funds, project bonds, project equity holding, co-sponsoring and other ways.

Jia concluded by saying that the Chinese and Italian entrepreneurs are the cornerstones for the development of economic and trade relations between the two countries and they are also partners sharing mutual benefits and seeking for win-win results. So long as friends of the business communities join hands in sincere cooperation to forge ahead, the two countries will be able to create a better future for the economic and trade relations.

The Italian side said that China has made remarkable achievements in economic development in recent years and has brought about important development opportunities for many countries. The successful holding of the 18th CPC National Congress has important implications not only for China, but also for Europe and the whole world. The Italian said believed that the Chinese economy will maintain steady growth and China will continue to be a positive force for world peace. Italy is experiencing the difficulties of the sovereign debt crisis, but Italy has the confidence to overcome the current difficulties and continue to innovate and progress. The Italian side is willing to work with China to learn from each other and increase understanding and respect for each other so as to constantly deepen pragmatic cooperation and push bilateral relations to achieve greater development.

Qian Yunlu, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the CPPCC National Committee and other accompanying staff attended the above activities.