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President Hu visits industrial park in Italy

By Sun Shangwu (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-07 23:12

FLORENCE, Italy: Visiting President Hu Jintao toured an industrial park in the Italian region of Tuscany on Tuesday, in support of ever-strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the nations' small- and medium-sized enterprises.

He visited Leather manufacturer Ausonia's tannery in the Santa Croce industrial park, which accommodates 800 small- and medium-sized enterprises, employing nearly 10,000 staff.

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Since its foundation in 1946, the Ausonia tannery has concentrated efforts on becoming a leader in the production of leather for bags, luggage, belts, accessories and furnishings.

When President Hu met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome on Monday, he called for the two countries to provide more support for the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Policy support should come in the form of easier access to financing and insurance, according to Hu.

China is firmly opposed to trade and investment protectionism and welcomes Italian products in Chinese markets, said Hu.

He and Berlusconi also attended the closing ceremony of an economic and trade forum in Rome on Monday, at which enterprises of the two countries signed a series of contracts.

They include the purchase of advanced technologies, mutual investment and service sector expansion, according to Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Nearly 300 Chinese companies, most of them small- and medium-sized enterprises, accompanied Hu to Italy.

Hu suggested that small- and medium-sized companies from both countries cooperate more in the areas of technology, art, design, branding promotion and marketing.

Hu also said both countries should oppose "all sorts of" protectionism.

China and Italy should jointly combat trade and investment protectionism with concrete measures, Hu said.

Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi said that Italy would make efforts to become China's third largest trade and investment partner in the European Union in the following three years.

Italy is currently the fifth largest within the EU, with the bilateral deals amounting to US$32.8 billion in the past year.

Hu told the Italian leader that China does not seek a larger trade surplus with his country and will welcome imports as long as they suit the needs of the local market.

"We are pursuing balanced development" in Sino-Italy trade relations, said Hu.

After the State visit, Hu will attend the Group of Eight summit of developed countries and leading developing economies starting Wednesday.