Italy’s Ambassador to China Massimo Ambrosetti speaks during a recent interview with China Daily in Hong Kong. (LESLEY LIU / CHINA DAILY)
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region plays an important role in the framework of the bilateral cooperation between Italy and China, said Massimo Ambrosetti, Italy’s ambassador to China.
There have been frequent cultural exchanges between HKSAR and Italy, Ambrosetti told China Daily in a recent interview. He visited the city to greet the Teatro alla Scala Ballet, or La Scala Theater Ballet, which kicked off its sixth China tour with performances in the SAR, before heading to the Chinese mainland.
The ambassador said the last time he visited Hong Kong was to attend a jewelry exhibition where more than 120 Italian exhibitors participated.
“I'm very glad that Hong Kong is always very open to these exchanges,” he said. “We have many opportunities to strengthen the very important framework of cooperation."
I'm very glad that Hong Kong is always very open to these (business and cultural) exchanges ... We have many opportunities to strengthen the very important framework of cooperation.
Massimo Ambrosetti, Italy’s ambassador to China
One of the major cultural institutions in Italy and in Europe, La Scala staged widely applauded shows in Hong Kong between March 15 to 17, before moving on to the next stop, Shanghai.
As part of the cultural exchanges, “ballet is a great form of art,” Ambrosetti said. All the dancers in the La Scala ballet company are young people, who become “a good example for the younger generations in Italy and also here in Hong Kong”, he added.
Apart from Hong Kong, Italy is very active in the Greater Bay Area region as a whole, the envoy said, noting that the GBA — which comprises the Hong Kong and Macao SARs and nine cities in Guangdong province — is one of the most dynamic areas in China.
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“We have very strong ties” with the entire region, he said. “We have trade relations … important investments”, hence the GBA will “continue to be a priority for cooperation between Italy and China”, he said.
He noted that at the end of September last year, Italy’s tourism minister visited Hong Kong, as well as the neighboring special administrative region of Macao, to promote Italy and its tourism and cultural attractions.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Italy and China, so it is going to be an important year. “And of course, Hong Kong is part of this process,” Ambrosetti said.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Italy and China, so it is going to be an important year. “And of course, Hong Kong is part of this process,” Ambrosetti said
Ambrosetti noted that 2024 marks 700 years since the death of famous Italian explorer Marco Polo, who traveled through the ancient Silk Road during the 13th century and spent many years in China.
Marco Polo’s book made the East and the West closer, “describing for the first time for a Western public what was China, and creating a very powerful imagery about the East”, he said.
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The ambassador said that Italians welcome Hong Kong people to Italy. “We are committed to support these exchanges … and to make people (in Italy) more aware of all the opportunities they can find” in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, he said.
