MILAN (ITALPRESS) – It is a secular relationship that unites two cities far from thousands of kilometers, but in truth linked by deep economic, scientific and cultural exchanges. This is the story that unites Milan, Italian capital of the economy, fashion and design with Xi’an, capital of the Chinese province of Shaanxi. A story that was remembered this morning at the event “Meeting Xi’an: a silk road hub’s dialogue with Europe” organized by the Municipal Government of Xi’an. The city in the Chinese hinterland is particularly well known internationally and in Italy: in fact boasts a story of 3,100 years of which 1,100 as capital of no less than seven imperial dynasties. Among the most famous historical beauties are the famous terracotta army (composed of more than 8 thousand statues of warriors, chariots and horses) and the pagoda of the Great Wild Oca. But the city is also a commercial hub of considerable importance: You should not forget that Xi’an is the eastern end of the Silk Road, as well as Milan is among the western ones.
As explained by Cui Qing, Executive Deputy Minister of the Department of Advertising of the Xi’an Municipal Party Committee, in the city transit 18 international routes and 26 consolidation routes covering the entire continent Asia-Europe. To these are added 27 countries reached from the routes of the new “Via della Seta e della Via Marittima”. Xi’an also hosts 84 colleges and universities, over 1,400 scientific research institutes, 15,000 state-class high-tech companies and 19,000 small and medium-sized enterprises. Complete the picture 5 industrial clusters of $100 billion in the fields of electronic information, automobile, aerospace, new materials and energy. “Xi’an is a visit to our country. If Milan was the end of the Silk Road, Xi’an was the departure. Xi’an shows the spirit of a city that embraces past and present, continuing to innovate. And as a meeting place for different civilizations along the Silk Road, Xi’an does not belong only to China but to the world,” said Liu Kan, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Milan.
“China and Italy both are countries of great civilization. We have many years of cultural exchange since ancient times and especially after we have built the diplomatic relationship between our countries 55 years ago – he added – increasingly rich cultural exchanges can improve understanding between the two peoples and also establish an important basis for the development of both countries. I hope that these two cities can have ever deeper exchanges to promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples.” In order to reach this goal even more, the console indicated as “having more exchanges between people because only with these we can connect even from the economic point of view. Moreover the Chinese government now no longer asks for the visa for Italian friends: are increasingly the Italians who come to visit China and I think it is a great aspect”. Until 31 December 2026, the Beijing Government extended visa exemption for Italians arriving in the country for a maximum period of 30 days. “We love Italian culture and hope that, thanks to events like today, Italy is increasingly one of the most important destinations for Chinese tourists,” he concluded.
“The city of Xi’an is very important and one of the first that has had exchanges with Italy. Today we have an important delegation that leads us to think more about how we can collaborate between our two nations not only under the cultural point of view, but also under the perspective of enterprises, companies, education, school and health”, said Maria Rosa Azzolina, president of the Italian Chinese Institute. On how to create stronger bridges between the two cities, “the concrete step of the last two years was the opening of a direct flight from Milan to Xi’an. It had been discussed for many years, but thanks to the help of the airport authorities of Milan and Xi’an it was achieved this important objective and at this moment there are many Italian tourists who go to Xi’an for vacation and work”. For Azzolina the renewal of visa exemption for Italian citizens travelling to China “is very important because it facilitates these trips and invites people to go without having an extra drain. We would like it to be mutual, even for the Chinese who arrive in Italy, but at the moment it is not yet so”.
– photo xh7/Italpress –
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