Two signed articles by Chinese President Xi Jinping titled "East Meets West -- A New Chapter of Sino-Italian Friendship" and "Move Together Toward Common Development" were published respectively in leading Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera and leading French newspaper Le Figaro ahead of his state visits to the two European countries.
The following are the key points of the two signed articles:
Friendship
China-Italy
The traditional friendship between us, stronger than ever, has become a strong pillar supporting the rapid and steady growth of our bilateral ties.
China-France
I will bring with me special friendship toward the French people. Such friendship is rooted in the long-standing friendly ties between our two countries, and reinforced by the closeness between our peoples with mutual respect and mutual trust.
A community with a shared future for all mankind
China-Italy
Confronted by the transformations and challenges of today's world and informed by our deep appreciation of history, China and Italy both envision a new type of international relations that are built on mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and a community with a shared future for all mankind.
China-France
We need to join hands to tackle challenges, promote global prosperity and stability and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
Comprehensive strategic partnership
China-Italy
Since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2004, our two countries, guided and driven by high-level exchanges, have given each other understanding and firm support on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns.
China hopes to work with Italy to strengthen our comprehensive strategic partnership.
China-France
Five years ago, in a balmy spring, I paid my first state visit to France as the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. It gave us an opportunity to review the past, plan for the future and open up a new era of close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
As France's comprehensive strategic partner, China will continue to forge ahead with France shoulder to shoulder.
Multi-faceted cooperation
China-Italy
As key trading and investment partners for each other, China and Italy have deeply entwined interests. Two-way trade exceeded 50 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 and investment surpassed 20 billion dollars in accumulative terms. "Made in Italy" is a guarantee of quality, Italian fashion and furniture are immensely popular with Chinese consumers, and pizza and tiramisu are the love of many young Chinese. Every now and then, we hear stories about the success of Sino-Italian cooperation in satellite R&D and manned space exploration. Initiatives such as the China-Italy Science, Technology and Innovation Week, joint police patrols and football training, to name just a few, are applauded by people in both countries.
China-France
In a short span of five years, our bilateral trade has expanded by more than 13 billion U.S. dollars, and mutual investment increased by over 20 billion dollars. French beef and other quality agricultural produce are becoming increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. The Taishan 1 nuclear reactor built under China-France collaboration has become the world's first EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) unit connected to grid. The Hinkley Point nuclear power plant, an iconic trilateral project between China, France and Britain, has got off to a good start. The China-France Oceanography Satellite (CFOSat) has entered into orbit. We are tapping our cooperation potential in sustainable development, finance, medicine and health, and other fields. As our cooperation in third markets grows, we are making good progress in jointly undertaking the Belt and Road Initiative.
Belt and Road cooperation
China-Italy
China hopes to work with Italy to advance Belt and Road cooperation. Our two countries may harness our historical and cultural bonds forged through the ancient Silk Road as well as our geographical locations to align connectivity cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative with Italy's plan to develop its northern ports and the InvestItalia program, and jointly build the Belt and Road of the new era on sea, on land, in the air, in space and in the cultural domain.
China-France
China hopes to work with France to deepen all-round cooperation in the traditional areas of nuclear energy, aviation and aerospace, develop new areas of cooperation such as agriculture and technological innovation, and make greater headway in our cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and in third markets.
Further opening-up and win-win
China-Italy
China will open up further to the rest of the world, and share its market opportunities with Italy and other countries through the annual China International Import Expo and other avenues. Our two countries may fully tap our cooperation potential in ports, logistics, ship-building, transportation, energy, telecommunications, medicine and other fields, and encourage our companies to partner with each other in third markets for win-win cooperation.
China-France
We welcome France to the China International Import Expo, and want to import more high-quality French products and services to meet the Chinese people's growing needs for a better life. We hope more French companies will choose to invest and do business in China to share in the country's development opportunities. We also hope to see Chinese businesses do better in France and contribute more to France's economic and social development.
People-to-people ties
China-Italy
China hopes to work with Italy to promote closer people-to-people ties. As countries with the largest number of UNESCO world heritage sites, China and Italy have plenty of cultural and tourism resources. We may encourage our world heritage sites to forge twinning relationships and our cultural institutions and individuals to organize premium relic and art exhibitions. We may also encourage joint production of films and TV programs, the teaching of each other's languages, as well as more mutual travel and visits. Through these exchanges, we will make new contributions to the diversity of civilizations and mutual learning between different cultures.
China-France
With 102 pairs of sister provinces and cities, the two countries have developed a thick network of subnational exchanges and cooperation. In 2018, nearly 40,000 Chinese students were studying in France, more than 100,000 French students were studying Chinese, and a record number of Chinese tourists visited France. Paris has more direct flights to China than most other European cities. Like a myriad of small streams converging into a mighty river, the various close personnel and cultural exchanges have enriched our friendship.
I hope our two countries will take bigger strides in our cooperation in culture, tourism, education, sports and youth affairs, and at the subnational level, and hope to see our cooperation play an exemplary role in driving the cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the West.
International affairs
China-Italy
China hopes to strengthen coordination with Italy in international affairs and multilateral organizations. China is ready to enhance communication and collaboration with Italy in the United Nations (UN), the G20, Asia-Europe Meeting and the World Trade Organization (WTO) on global governance, climate change, UN reform, WTO reform and other major issues. Working together, we will promote our shared interests, uphold multilateralism and free trade, and safeguard world peace, stability, development and prosperity.
China-France
We have developed more common views on major international issues, carried out sound cooperation under the United Nations, the G20 and other frameworks, and jointly worked for peaceful settlement of regional hotspots, playing our important roles in upholding global peace, stability and development.
Multilateralism
China-Italy
Working together, we will promote our shared interests, uphold multilateralism and free trade, and safeguard world peace, stability, development and prosperity.
China-France
China hopes to strengthen coordination with France to safeguard multilateralism and uphold the basic norms governing international relations as underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
Envision
China-Italy
Looking ahead, China-Italy cooperation will continue to flourish and prosper. The Chinese people look forward to working hand in hand with our friends in Italy to carry forward our blossoming relationship and imbue our friendship with more vitality and dynamism.
China-France
We now stand at a new starting point. Let China and France join hands and set off in solid steps on a common journey toward new and greater achievements in China-France cooperation.