<img src='https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-11-08/President-Xi-calls-for-pushing-China-Italy-friendship-mutual-learning-1ymQEbS2ht6/img/77cd056a43c14e7884e239725095866c/77cd056a43c14e7884e239725095866c.png' alt='National flags of China and Italy are seen in Beijing, China, November 7, 2024. /CFP'
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday jointly met with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing.
In recent years, the China-Italy cultural cooperation mechanism has promoted the two countries to hold cultural and tourism events, Xi said, adding that universities in the two countries have carried out extensive academic and youth exchanges, and expanded joint research in emerging disciplines, yielding fruitful results.
As two major civilizations, China and Italy should work together to encourage more people to strive to be practitioners of China-Italy friendly cooperation, promoters of mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, and participants in building a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.
For his part, Mattarella called on the two sides to inherit friendship, build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, and provide a solid foundation and support for the development of Italy-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
(With input from Xinhua)
