Chinese investments help Italian companies go international: experts

Some local institutions have realized the importance of bilateral communication and are working to ease collaboration between companies of the two countries, Pier Luigi Streparava, President of the Milan-based Italy-China Chamber of Commerce, told Xinhua.

The Italy-China Chamber of Commerce, which on Thursday will celebrate the 45th anniversary of its foundation along with the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Italy, over the past two years has particularly focused on the need of Chinese investors in Italy, Streparava said.

"We have recently shifted our attention from Italian companies wanting to invest in China to Chinese companies wanting to invest in Italy," he explained to Xinhua. "To this extent, we have also introduced Chinese members into our board of directors, which says a lot on new possible Chinese initiatives in Italy," he stressed.

Strong support is also coming from the Chinese side, said Jin Yangkun, General Manager of ICBC Europe S.A. Milan Branch. Exactly one month ago, he noted, the second ICBC branch in Italy was opened in capital Rome, after the first one had been opened in Milan, the country's main economic hub, in 2011.

"We have established our branches in Italy not only to provide financial support for the investments, but especially to be a cultural bridge between Chinese and Italian companies," Jin highlighted. He underlined that ICBC was particularly ready to support bilateral collaboration in infrastructures, a growingly important sector for Chinese investments in Italy in the coming years.