ROME: Chinese President Hu Jintao met his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano here Monday for talks on the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy.

　　China's President Hu Jintao (R) walks past an honor guard with Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano at Quirinale palace in Rome July 6, 2009. [Agencies]

　　The two leaders are also expected to exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern, Chinese diplomats said.

　　Before their talks, the Chinese president attended a welcome ceremony hosted by Napolitano.

　　Hu is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and other Italian leaders later in the day to discuss the development of bilateral cooperation.

　　Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo, who was accompanying Hu on his visit to Italy, told reporters Sunday that China and Italy would sign as many as eight deals during Hu's visit.

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　　The deals cover a wide range of fields like purchasing Italian goods, economic cooperation, investment, education, tourism and cultural exchanges, Wu said.

　　In recent years, the development of China-Italy ties have maintained momentum with frequent exchanges of high-level visits, close coordination in dealing with world affairs, expansion of people-to-people exchanges and cultural cooperation.

　　China is now Italy's important trading partner with two-way trade totaling 38.2 billion US dollars in 2008 despite the slowdown of the global economy.

　　The two countries have also expanded cooperation in economy, culture, science and environmental protection in recent years.

　　Hu arrived here Sunday for a state visit and will also attend an outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit in the central city of L'Aquila. After the meeting, Hu will visit Portugal.