Italy seeks closer ties with China

Italy will seek closer engagement with China on major global issues when Rome holds the presidency of the Group of Eight (G8) next year, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said.

"I intend to closely engage with China on key topics on the G8's agenda such as climate change, sustainable energy policy, global terrorism and poverty," Frattini said in an interview with China Daily in Beijing on Friday.

None of these issues can be addressed effectively at national level and engagement with China is the aim of all G8 members, he said, adding that Italy will attach particular importance to consulting China on stabilizing the turbulent border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan.