On October 29th, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CCIC), with the support of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Suzhou Municipal Government, the Embassy of Italy to the P.R.C., the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, the Italian Trade Agency and SACE, successfully held the 17th Suzhou Appreciation Meeting.
CCIC Chairman Lorenzo Riccardi, with CICC Board and CICC Team welcomed over 70 participants, including institutional representatives such as Consul General of Italy in Shanghai Tiziana D'Angelo, Counsellor Giulio Bolaffi, Commercial Consul Stefania Mortelliti, Italian Trade Agency Director Augusto di Giacinto and SACE representative Matteo Magon, as well as CICC Board Members and over 60 CICC Members - marking the highest member turnout in the event’s history.
Key Chinese authorities, including Mayor Wu Qingwen and Vice Mayor Ji Jing, together with representatives from various Suzhou districts, also joined the meeting. The event centered on three main themes: enhancing China–Italy business cooperation, promoting innovation and education, and fostering cultural and industrial exchanges.
Part I – Meeting between Italian companies and Italian institutions
The first session, moderated by CCIC Board Director Lorenzo Bali, opened with welcoming remarks and featured interventions from Consul General Tiziana D’Angelo, Counsellor Giulio Bolaffi, and CCIC Chairman Lorenzo Riccardi. They highlighted the strong presence of Italian businesses in Suzhou, opportunities to strengthen Italy-China relations, and the importance of collaboration with local authorities. The session continued with an internal discussion among Italian companies, where representatives shared insights on market trends, investment visibility, and strategies to foster innovation and education.
Part II – Bilateral Meeting with Suzhou Mayor
This session was honored by the presence of Mayor Wu Qingwen, alongside representatives from the Suzhou government, the Italian Embassy and Consulate, CCIC Board Members, and Italian companies. Mayor Wu emphasized support for bilateral cooperation and encouraged further collaboration in research, innovation, culture, and student exchanges. Consul General Tiziana D’Angelo highlighted Suzhou’s role as the largest Italian manufacturing hub outside Europe and underscored ongoing opportunities for collaboration between Italy and China.
Part III – Appreciation Dinner with Vice Mayor
The event concluded with an Appreciation Dinner attended by Italian and Chinese representatives, including Vice Mayor Ji Jing, and officials from various Suzhou districts. The dinner provided a platform for informal dialogue and networking, reflecting the collaborative spirit of the Italian business community in Suzhou and reaffirming the city’s role as a key hub for Italian investment and innovation in China, as well as a symbol of enduring bilateral friendship.
The Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CCIC) sincerely thanks all participants and partners for their continued support and collaboration and looks forward to future initiatives fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and cross-cultural exchange between Italy and China. Special appreciation goes to the Suzhou Municipal Government, the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office, the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, and the Embassy of Italy to the P.R.C. for their trust and support.
We are also grateful for every conversation and shared moment that made the event meaningful. Special thanks to the CICC Board Members for their teamwork, and to our dedicated interns whose efforts behind the scenes ensured the smooth running of the event.
