On 21 July 2026, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CCIC) co-organized the 2nd China-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Hangzhou, together with the China Economic Cooperation Centre (CECC), the Zhejiang Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce.
Held within the framework of the visit to China of the Italian parliamentary delegation led by Hon. Vinicio Peluffo, President of the Italian Parliamentary "Friends of China" Association, the Forum brought together more than 80 representatives from Chinese and Italian institutions, the Italian Parliament, diplomatic missions and the business community, reaffirming the shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation between Italy and China.
The day began with company visits to two of Zhejiang's leading technology companies:
- Unitree Robotics (Hangzhou Yushu Technology), one of China's most innovative robotics companies and a global leader in the development of advanced humanoid and quadruped robots.
- Zhejiang Dahua Technology, a world-leading provider of AI-powered video surveillance, smart IoT and digital security solutions, serving industries ranging from smart cities and manufacturing to transportation and healthcare.
These visits provided participants with first-hand insights into Zhejiang's thriving innovation ecosystem and highlighted the province's leadership in robotics, artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
In the afternoon, the delegation gathered at Huajia Villa for the 2nd China-Italy Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum, a high-level platform for institutional dialogue and business exchange. Bringing together government representatives, members of the Italian Parliament, diplomatic authorities and business leaders from both countries, the Forum provided an opportunity to discuss the future of China–Italy economic relations and explore new areas of cooperation.
The opening session was moderated by Yang Song, Vice President of the China Economic Cooperation Centre, and featured keynote speeches by:
- Ma Hui, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee;
- Hu Wei, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province;
- Hon. Vinicio Peluffo, President of the Italian Parliamentary "Friends of China" Association;
- Tiziana D'Angelo, Consul General of Italy in Shanghai.
During the Forum, Davide Angelibusi, Board Member of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China, delivered remarks on behalf of the Chamber, reaffirming CCIC's commitment to supporting Italian companies in China and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.
Throughout the discussions, speakers emphasized the strong complementarities between Italy and Zhejiang, particularly in advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, green technologies, digital economy, fashion, design and agri-food. Zhejiang's world-class business environment, innovation ecosystem and openness to international investment were recognized as key drivers for future collaboration, while Italy's excellence in manufacturing, engineering, creativity and sustainable technologies continues to offer valuable opportunities for partnership.
The Forum concluded with a Business Matching & Networking Session, where Italian and Chinese companies had the opportunity to present their activities, establish direct contacts and explore potential collaborations.
Among the Italian companies and organizations participating in the event were EU SME Centre, UFI Filters, CAREL, Ferrero, Marine Interiors (Fincantieri Group), FuturaSun, Novacart, OMET, SIAD, Vincent, FMMG Technical Textiles, together with representatives of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China.
The programme concluded with a meeting with Zhejiang provincial authorities, a boat tour on the iconic West Lake, and an official banquet hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Government.
The Italian Chamber of Commerce in China would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Zhejiang Provincial Government, the China Economic Cooperation Centre, the Italian parliamentary delegation, all institutional representatives, speakers, participating companies and Huajia Villa for their valuable support in making this Forum a success.
As China and Italy continue to deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the CCIC remains committed to serving as a bridge between the two business communities, fostering dialogue, facilitating partnerships and supporting Italian companies in seizing new opportunities across China.
