On January 26th, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and his party visited the Shanghai Florence Sino-Italian design exchange center (hereinafter referred to as "Sino-Italian design exchange center") at the end of the upcoming trip to France and Italy, and had friendly discussion with Italy business representatives invited to the meeting. Zhang Zhan, director of SPCCD, received the visit from Minister Wang Yi and his delegation in Florence.

 

Minister Wang Yi said that Florence is a city with unique charm and special significance. He was  glad to see that Chinese enterprises have a good development here and the Sino-Italian design exchange center platform has played a very important role in it. It is hoped that China and Italy will continue to strengthen strategic communication, consolidate strategic mutual trust and deepen strategic cooperation, so as to continuously inject new connotation into the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, and providing positive energy for the international community.

Zhang Zhan, director of SPCCD and Jia Bo, chairman of Dobe Group, introduced the projects and operation results of Sino-Italian design exchange center to minister Wang Yi and guests.

 

The guests present were: State Councilor and Minister of foreign affairs Wang Yi, Vice Minister of foreign affairs Wang Chao, European Secretary Chen Xu, director of Information Department Lu Kang, deputy director of the Protocol Department He Rulong, Ambassador in Italy Li Ruiyu and Zheng Xuan, Florence Consul General Wang Fuguo, Director of SPCCD Zhang Zhan, chairman of Dobe Group JIa Bo and the representatives of local excellent enterprises and institutions.

 

Sino-Italian design exchange center project was signed and launched in November 2012, and opened in strotch villa in March 2014. It is jointly operated by SPCCD and Dobe Group. In the past six years, under the framework of Sino-Italian cultural cooperation mechanism, supported and promoted by the Ministry of culture and tourism of the people's Republic of China and the governments of Shanghai and Florence, a cooperation mechanism of "market as the main body and government as the guide" has been established between Shanghai and Florence. Relying on the project platform, about 200 cultural and creative activities and projects have been held in Florence and more than 70 in Shanghai, which covering design, culture, fashion, architecture and other industries. The types of activities include exhibitions, forums, competitions, performances, etc. The major exhibition activities involved include Milan World Expo, Florence handicraft Festival, Milan Furniture Exhibition, and Shanghai design Week, Shanghai International Furniture Fair, etc. It serves the needs of Chinese and Italian governments, institutions, enterprises and designers in various aspects such as industrial investment, exhibition exchange, business cooperation, etc. It has made positive contributions to the exchanges and cooperation between Shanghai and Florence, as well as in the field of culture and creativity between China and Italy.