The 12th China-Italy Innovation Week (CIIW) opened on November 28, 2023 in Beijing. Yin Hejun, Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China delivered a video speech to welcome the event, while Zhang Guangjun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Anna Maria Bernini, Italian Minister of Universities and Scientific Research , and Yu Yingjie, Vice Mayor of Beijing attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

In his welcome speech, Yin Hejun noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the 2022 G20 Summit. President Xi emphasized that the two sides need to leverage the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan to step up cooperation on winter sports and industries. With the theme of "High-tech Olympics and High-quality Development", this year's cooperation week focus on a concrete action to implement the consensus of the two leaders and promote better development of China-Italy cooperation in science and technology. He emphasized that this year is the 45th anniversary of the signing of the the China-Italy Intergovernmental Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation. As the most important platform for scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between China and Italy, it is of landmark significance to organize the CIIW.

Zhang Guangjun said in his speech that scientific and technological cooperation has always contributed to the development of relations between the two countries. It is hoped that both sides will strengthen the top-level design, take the implementation of the important consensus of the meeting between the two heads of state as the direction of action. By focusing on key areas and exploring the potential for cooperation, the two sides will give full play to the role of cooperation mechanisms and platforms. Moreover, it is also important to strengthen personnel exchanges, enhance mutual trust and friendship. In this way , we can join hands to promote China-Italy cooperation in science and technology innovation to a new level.

On behalf of the Italian delegation, Anna Maria Bernini thanked China for the warm invitation and said that CIIW is an outstanding platform for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. The 12th CIIW provides valuable opportunities for exchanges and cooperation between the scientific and technological sectors and industries of both sides. Boasting a long history of exchanges, China and Italy should give full play to their respective advantages, strengthen communication and sharing through scientific research cooperation, and jointly address global challenges.

In his welcome speech, Yu Yingjie said that with a long history and a profound culture, Beijing is full of innovative and entrepreneurial vitality. Against the established trend of international sci-tech cooperation, Beijing will continue to optimize the open innovation ecology and promote pragmatic innovation cooperation with Italy by hosting activities like CIIW and improving the mechanism of China-Italy scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation. We will continue to expand the cooperation fields, enrich cooperation patterns, and enhance cooperative effectiveness.

Organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Universities and Scientific Research of Italy, and hosted by Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, National Research Council of Italy, and Fondazione IDIS of the Italian Science City, the CIIW consists of an opening ceremony, ministerial-level bilateral meetings, parallel forums, "one-to-one" matchmaking meetings for China-Italy scientific and technological innovation projects, and a showcase of China-Italy cooperation projects. Representatives from both countries carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions through four parallel forums and one high-end dialogue in the fields of science and technology for the Winter Olympics, intelligent manufacturing, design and art industry, cultural heritage protection, science parks, youth innovation, new generation of information technology, agriculture and health, blue economy, green energy, etc. More than 500 delegates from both sides participated in the conference. A total of more than 500 representatives from both sides will participate in the conference, and nearly 80 "one-to-one" science and technology project matching activities will be carried out. Four cooperative projects were signed on-site at the opening ceremony.

Zhang Tao, Deputy Director General of the Department of Science and Education of the State General Administration of Sports, Li Jiya, Headmaster of the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and President of headmasters' Federation, and Riccardo Villari, President of the Italian City of Science, gave keynote speeches or presentations at the Opening Ceremony.

The participants also include: Massimo Ambrosetti, Ambassador of Italy to China, Zhang Jihong, Director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology and Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, Xu Jie, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Tian Yishu, Minister Counselor of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Shen Jianlei Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of China in Italy, etc.

After the opening ceremony, Zhang Guangjun held a bilateral meeting with Bernini and exchanged views on the scientific and technological relations between the two countries. 

Source: Department of International Cooperation (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs), Ministry of Science and Technology of China