Italian President Sergio Mattarella toured the Summer Palace in Beijing on Thursday, after arriving in China earlier in the day for a six-day state visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The once imperial garden, located in the western suburb of Beijing, is the first place the Italian president visited on his first trip to China since February 2017.
He was accompanied by his daughter Laura and several Italian ministerial officials.
During the nearly one-hour trip, Mattarella learned about stories in China's history and garden landscaping in the long corridor, climbed atop the Longevity Hill to explore similarities and differences between Chinese and Italian religious cultures, and took a cruise to enjoy the sunset over the Kunming Lake.
China and Italy both have ancient civilizations. The mutual attraction between them has become precious wealth for both sides and continues to this day.
Mattarella also said earlier that promoting the exploration of the potential of the cultural and creative industries of Italy and China could bring fruitful results to both sides.
Choosing the Summer Palace as the first stop of the Italian president's visit to China also shows Italy's willingness to deepen cooperation with China in cultural heritage protection.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.
In July, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited China. In less than half a year, two important Italian politicians have visited China successively, highlighting the high level of development of China-Italy relations.
The two countries expect to take the opportunity to further expand practical cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
The Summer Palace is the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China, and among the most noted classical gardens in the world. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
Italian president tours Summer Palace in Beijing
Compatriots in China's Taiwan region on Tuesday expressed their opposition to provacation activities by 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command carried out joint exercises around the Taiwan Island on Tuesday and Wednesday, following Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te rolled out his provocative 17 strategies.
The seizure and control of transport channels is one of the situmulating measures in the latest round of exercises.
"Taiwan relies on imports for most of the goods and resources it needs, so import channels are very important for its survival and development. The PLA did not disclose when this drill would end at the beginning. Many were worried that if it lasted more than seven days, Taiwan would run out of natural gas, an important source of its power generation. I think this is the issue Taiwan residents should worry about. Most people in Taiwan don't want a military conflict between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, because it will end up with the ordinary people suffering the most in the end it's the ordinary people who will suffer," said Hsieh Chih-chuan, a current affair commentator in Taiwan.
Residents in Taiwan expressed dissatisfaction with Lai Ching-te for seeking personal political interests at the expense of the interests of the general public and forcing Taiwan residents to join his secession attempts.
"We don't want any military conflicts. We just expect peaceful negotiations. I hope Lai can realize that Taiwan is a small place, and there is no need for another war. Haven't we learned enough from the past?" said a Taiwan resident.
"I believe that moves seeking 'Taiwan independence' will surely lead to serious consequences. The mainland is normalizing its actual combat drills, and is capable of immediate actual combat response when needed. There are many people of different political positions in Taiwan, but I believe we all have a consensus that secessionist activities will bring calamity. I believe that after seeing the latest military exercises, all will clearly understand that this is the possible consequence of 'Taiwan independence' provocations," said Professor Yu Tzu-hsiang from Shih Hsin University in Taipei City.
Taiwan residents also urged Lai and the authorities to return to the right track of strengthening communication with the mainland to resolve differences.
"As an ordinary resident, I do not hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will resort to military force, and I also believe that there is no need for the Taiwan authorities to make provocations. Rational communication between the two sides is what we ordinary people would like to see," said a young resident of Taiwan.
"Taiwan residents are very peace-loving, and we also hope that there can be more exchanges, instead of conflicts, between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Compatriots on both sides of the strait share the same language and race, so there is nothing that we cannot sit down and discuss. We hope that in the future there will be fewer and fewer conflicts and that we will be able to return to the past, when there were kind-hearted and orderly exchanges," said another young man.
Taiwan residents express opposition to "Taiwan Independence" provocations
