President Gong Qihuang extended a warm welcome to the Italian President and his delegation. He noted that Peking University has maintained a long-standing and friendly cooperative relationship with Italy's higher education sector, contributing wisdom and strength to enhance academic exchanges, cultural understanding, and mutual trust between the two countries, making the university both a participant and witness to Sino-Italian friendship.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Italy, and President Mattarella's visit will further expand practical cooperation across various fields, fostering friendly exchanges and closer ties between the two peoples, and promoting equal dialogue and mutual learning among different civilizations.
President Sergio Mattarella began by expressing his gratitude for the warm welcome and commending Peking University’s contribution to China’s modern development and addressing contemporary issues, noting that his visit provided a good opportunity to better understand China-Italy relations.
President Mattarella noted that both nations are ancient civilizations that, through nearly uninterrupted exchanges over millennia, have jointly shaped the concept of “civilization.” Rich and productive cultural interactions between the two countries have forged strong bonds, contributing significantly to the development of world civilization.
Citing the two countries’ long-standing cultural exchange and the upcoming 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, he stated that the essence of civilizations lies in mutual nourishment, and that the mature and solid friendship between our two nations are result of concerted efforts of many generations of scholars, businessmen, scientists and artists -- with their sincerity and all-encompassing attitude.
President Mattarella expressed hopes for deepened bilateral relations between China and Italy, especially in areas like climate change, energy transition, public health, security, and international peace, where China and Italy share similar stances. In the fields of culture, science, education, and world heritage, the two countries should leverage their experience to address contemporary challenges, and contribute historical wisdom to humanity and world peace.
President Mattarella pointed out that university is an important place to cultivate critical thinking mindset which plays an irreplaceable role in today’s education. After a review of the bilateral educational collaboration, he expressed his encouragement for more exchange students who are serving as the true cultural ambassadors.
President Mattarella was pleased with the China-Italy University Rectors Dialogue for it serves not only as a key academic platform but an opportunity for joint growth of both sides. He encouraged the dialogue to adhere to human-centered values, actively explore differences between Eastern and Western traditions, build cross-cultural experiences, and promote cooperation in fields such as history, international relations, and law. He urged participants to examine globalization from a comparative perspective, exploring how the people of Italy and China can mutually benefit from their shared experiences, thereby deepening understanding and resonance between the two nations and strengthening academic trust.
Mattarella also highlighted the significant transformations in both countries since Italy’s cultural delegation first visited China in 1955, as the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations approaches.
Marking the 20th anniversary of the Italy-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he expressed hopes for further strengthening bilateral ties by advancing the strategic partnership’s action plan. He noted that Italy and China share common positions on global issues, supporting openness, constructive dialogue, and cooperation on climate change, energy transition, public health, security, and global stability. He encouraged to take full advantage of the long-established experiences of the two ancient civilizations in enhancing collaboration in culture, science, education, and heritage to address current challenges and contribute to shared future and peace.
Quoting Chinese poet Su Shi’s famous line, “Of Mountain Lu we cannot make out its true features / For we are in the midst of the very place,” President Mattarella reminded the young generation to maintain an objective perspective in obtaining a true understanding of the world and oneself. In closing, he inspired the young people to shoulder the mission of the era which is ever so intensely turbulent, by striving to develop a critical mindset of continuous self-reflections.
Following his remarks, President Mattarella exchanged questions and answers with faculty and students in the audience, along the themes on “how to take the bilateral cultural exchanges to the next level with heritage of Macro Polo,” and “the role of university in promoting bilateral cultural exchanges. He offered sincere responses to concerns of the youth and suggestions for higher educational collaboration.
Next, President Mattarella graced the signing ceremony for the renewal of the China-Italy Philanthropy Forum MoU, as well as the establishment of the PKU “Agnelli Chair in Italian Civilization” at the Zhibeizi Garden.
Romano Prodi, the Italian Co-Chair of the China-Italy Philanthropy Forum, said that these two initiatives aim to foster meaningful and sustainable dialogue among key players in the philanthropic field of both countries, opening a new chapter in the Eastern and Western philanthropic cooperation and cultural exchange.
Higher education serves as an essential bridge for exchange and collaboration between China and Italy. Currently, Peking University has established intercollegiate cooperation agreements with several renowned Italian universities, including Sapienza University of Rome 1, the University of Turin, the University of Bologna, the University of Florence, and Ca' Foscari University of Venice.
In 2021, Peking University launched an Italian language program, assembling a high-caliber faculty team that has already achieved notable success in both teaching and research in the short few years. Today, numerous Italian faculty and more than 50 Italian students are working or studying at PKU.
In recent years, China and Italy have adhered to the enduring spirit of the Silk Road, shared the historical responsibility of ancient civilizations, and responded to the contemporary trend of peaceful development, achieving positive results in bilateral cooperation.
President Mattarella’s visit is expected to deepen exchanges between Chinese universities like PKU and Italian institutions, expanding collaboration across various fields. This visit aims to fully leverage the potential of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, ushering in a new chapter of friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual learning between the two nations, while contributing robustly to building a shared future for humanity.
