Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expressed the hope that China and the European Union (EU), two major forces in the world, will further enhance their cooperation so as to jointly address global issues.
In an exclusive interview with the China Media Group aired on Friday, Mattarella said that as an EU member state, Italy will promote close cooperation with China alongside other EU member states.
"Italy has two inseparable identities: one from the national perspective of Italy, and the other as a founding member state of the EU, playing a significant role in EU affairs. Italy's policy inclination, project planning, and stance must all integrate into the EU's overall agenda. Italy will work with other EU member states to promote close cooperation with China," Mattarella said.
Mattarella paid a state visit to China from Nov 7 to 12 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During his stay in China, the Italian president attended an event at Peking University on Nov 9, where he delivered a speech and engaged in a dialogue with faculty and students from both China and Italy.
"Yesterday [Nov 9], I visited Peking University and was delighted to have the opportunity to engage in discussions with students. I emphasized that when addressing global issues, it's difficult to imagine what the outcome would be without the cooperation between the two major forces of the EU and China. Of course, there may be some problems in EU-China relations. The world itself is complex, inevitably leading to various problems, so there will always be times when in-depth communication is needed. But it is necessary to approach problems with a cooperative attitude, to eliminate barriers through dialogue and consultations, similar to the historical development of EU-China relations. We hope that these two major forces in the world can further strengthen their cooperation," Mattarella said.
Cooperation between China and Italy is vibrant as the two countries treat each other with sincerity and move forward hand in hand.
During Mattarella's state visit to China, the two countries signed multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of culture, technology, education, and world heritage site partnerships.
Italian president expects enhanced cooperation from China, EU to address global issues
Italian president expects enhanced cooperation from China, EU to address global issues
The entrepreneurial success of a Macao youth in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) has exemplified the growing trend of Macao's youth capitalizing on the bay area's vast opportunities, driving Macao's integration into the country's overall development since its return to the motherland 25 years ago.
From an early age, Wong Chi Choi displayed a remarkable aptitude for mathematics, winning a silver medal representing Macao in the International Mathematical Olympiad.
After graduating from Peking University's prestigious math program, he returned to Macao and co-founded a company engaged in China-Portugal trade services before finding his current passion: the burgeoning field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Zhuhai's City of south China's Guangdong Province.
Recently, Wong and his wife celebrated moving into their new home in Hengqin's "Macao New Neighborhood," a residential complex designed for Macao residents, offering integrated services like education and healthcare. The move, prompted by the birth of their child, signifies a new chapter for the family.
"Macao is a small place with a dense population. When I visited schools in Hengqin for the first time, what struck me the most was how fortunate the students here were. The spaces for their activities, their sleeping and nap areas, even their playgrounds, were all incredibly large. I hope that my child can grow up in such a vast space, cultivating a broader perspective, and in the future, contribute their strength to both the Macao Special Administrative Region and the nation," he said.
Wong's own experiences shaped his decision to relocate. Representing Macao in math competitions exposed him to many Chinese mainland's city to see their rapid development, and his time at Peking University broadened his horizons, instilling a desire to contribute to the nation's growth.
"I consider myself fortunate to have been born and raised in Macao, while also having the chance to study at a top national institution like Peking University thanks to the care and resources dedicated to education in Macao by the country. This has also given me a lot of space for contemplation in life," he said.
After graduating, Wong has navigated two significant career transitions over the past eight years, aligning with the development of Macao's Sino-Portuguese trade cooperation platform and the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone. He has transitioned from consulting on Portuguese-speaking trade to pioneering TCM in Hengqin.
"When choosing a career or project, I consider not just the financial rewards, but also its significance for society, Macao, and the nation's development," said Wong.
In the production workshop of the Guangdong-Macao cooperative Chinese medicine technology industrial park in Hengqin, Wong proudly showcased the company's self-developed automated production lines.
Since commencing operations in 2021, the company has leveraged the complementary strengths of Guangdong and Macao, as well as the research capabilities of national key laboratories, to develop a patented plant molecule purification technology that enables standardized and quantified processing of Chinese herbs, addressing longstanding concerns over the lack of standardization in TCM exports.
In May this year, the company became one of the first to receive the "Products Inspected By Macao" certification from the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone, a stamp of approval that Wong considers a tremendous boost for his Macao-based enterprise.
"The 'Products Inspected By Macao' recognition is a valuable endorsement of our products and technology. The central government and the Macao SAR have provided great assistance, including favorable land rental policies and other incentives. In turn, we can help TCM industries go global. This is a tremendous encouragement for a Macao company like ours," Wong said.
Covering a total area of 56,000 square kilometers, the bay area consists of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR), as well as nine cities in Guangdong Province -- Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing.
In 2021, China's central authorities decided to build the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and make the island an important new growth point for Macao's economy.
By the end of 2023, there were 11,500 Macao residents working or living in Hengqin, an annual increase of over 70 percent, according to the zone's statistics bureau.
Macao youth embraces Greater Bay Area opportunities, builds future in Hengqin
