China, Italy hold seminar on Xi's book 'The Governance of China'

Chinese and Italian officials, along with local students, held a seminar Wednesday on the Italian edition of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China."

The event precedes Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country.

The Chinese president will pay state visits to Italy, Monaco, and France from March 21-26, aiming to provide a fresh impetus to the China-Europe relationship and explore new possibilities for the co-building of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Wang Chao, the vice foreign minister told reporters on Wednesday in Beijing.

They will be the Chinese president's first state visits in 2019 and they attach historic meaning to China's relations with these European countries, Wang Chao said.

At the seminar, Jiang Jianguo, director of the State Council Information Office, read a letter from Xi replying to teachers and students of Rome Convitto Nazionale "Vittorio Emanuele II" high school and presented books to Italian guests. 

Chinese and Italian officials, with local teachers and students, attend a seminar on President Xi's political thoughts in Rome, on March 20, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

Vito Rosario Petrocelli, president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate of Italy, said for Italian readers, this is a book about discovering China, discovering the secrets of China's development and discovering that China's development is closely related to Italy's.

The book contained many thoughts and propositions on national and global governance and was of great practical value, he added.

"The Italian people look forward to President Xi's visit and have high expectations for participating in the Belt and Road Initiative," Petrocelli said. 

Students told reporters that the letter from President Xi has brought a big surprise to all the teachers and students of their school and they will work harder to learn Chinese, better understand President Xi's thoughts and become ambassadors of China-Italian cultural exchanges. 

They applauded the Confucius Classroom program for providing them with an opportunity to have a closer look at China and helping them have a better chance of finding a job and enjoying a bright future. 

(CGTN)