On September 4, 2023, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Italian Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani in Beijing.

Wang Yi said, China and Italy are two ancient civilizations, jointly creating a precedent for exchanges between the East and West, and making extraordinary contributions to the progress of human civilization. Noting that China and Italy are major economies in the world, he said bilateral cooperation enjoys complementary strengths and has achieved mutual benefits and win-win results. China and Italy are also comprehensive strategic partners, and the relations between the two countries have gone beyond the bilateral scope, making positive contributions to the development of China-Europe relations and world peace and stability. In the face of geopolitical and other challenges and disturbances, China and Italy should stick to the right way of getting along with each other featuring mutual respect and mutual trust, openness and cooperation, and equality and dialogue. The two sides should be committed to strategic China-Italy relations, and strive to make the bilateral relationship a pacesetter in China-Europe relations. The two sides should be committed to the open China-Italy cooperation, and promote China's high-quality development and Italy's economic growth to complement and reinforce each other for common progress. The two sides should be committed to civilized China-Italy relations, resist clashes of civilizations through mutual learning among civilizations, and carry forward the common values of humanity. China is ready to work with Italy to follow through on the important common understandings reached by leaders of the two countries, strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, expand high-level practical cooperation, enrich people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and push for sustained, sound and steady development of China-Italy relations.

Antonio Tajani said that Italy attaches great importance to developing long-term and stable relations with China, and stands ready to give full play to the potential of the Italy-China comprehensive strategic partnership and add new dimensions to bilateral cooperation. Italy will continue to abide by the one-China policy, and looks forward to closer high-level exchanges with China and strengthening exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Italy and China are two major civilizations with time-honored friendship and exchanges. Although the current international situation is turbulent and volatile, Italy-China relations will not be affected by it. Italy is ready to play a positive role in the development of Europe-China relations.

Wang Yi said that there is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and Europe, and bilateral cooperation outweighs disagreement, and common interests outstrip respective differences. China is ready to work with Europe for equal treatment and candid exchanges. China appreciates Italy's adherence to an independent foreign policy, and expects Italy to continue playing a constructive role in the development of China-Europe relations.

The two sides also had an exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest and concern.