CICC Met with Italy-China Institute

CICC Chairman Lorenzo Riccardi met with Maria Rosa Azzolina, President of the Italy-China Institute during her mission to China to discuss common projects and how to promote bilateral relations in economic and cultural fields.

The foundation of the Italy-China Institute for economic and cultural exchanges dates back to March 17th, 1971, by the President Vittorino Colombo.

The then Foreign Minister felt the need of integrating the standard diplomatic activity with a specific action for the promotion of relationships between the two countries. Therefore, he designated Vittorino Colombo to develop such action, entrusting him of a sort of an unofficial investiture by the government and major parties. Colombo deeply believed in the entrusted mission. He founded the Italy-China Institute, next to the existing Chamber of Commerce, becoming the pioneer of new relationships between the two countries and helping to open a breach in the “bamboo wall” that kept separated China from the rest of the world.