ROME, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Italy is a great success and has pushed the all-around strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Wednesday.

    During his three-day state visit, Hu held talks with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and met with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and parliament leaders, Yang said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano prior to their talks in Rome, capital of Italy, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Fan Rujun) Photo Gallery>>>

    Leaders of the two countries have agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance mutual political trust and broaden pragmatic cooperation, so as to boost the all-around strategic partnership.

    Their discussions also focused on trade and economic cooperation, with the aim to jointly cope with the international financial crisis.

    China sent a delegation to Italy to promote trade and investment, a move that fully demonstrated China's sincerity and positive attitude toward the development of bilateral trade and economic ties, Yang said.

    Enterprises of the two countries signed a number of agreements on cooperation in such areas as trade and environmental protection.

    During his talks and meetings with Italian leaders, Hu reviewed the history of relations between China and Italy, Yang added.

    Bilateral ties have a solid foundation since the two peoples enjoy a profound traditional friendship and the two countries have no conflicts of fundamental interests or pending historical issues.

    Both sides can always understand each other and take their major concerns into consideration, shelve differences in their social systems and cultural traditions, and stick to the principle of equal treatment, mutual respect and mutual trust.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome, capital of Italy, July 6, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

    Both sides can also review and handle bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term point of view. They decided to establish an all-around strategic partnership, injecting a strong momentum into their comprehensive cooperation, Yang said.

    The two countries share identical or similar views on many major international and regional affairs. They are also committed to world peace and development, with their common interests and fields of cooperation continuously broadened, Yang added.

    Hu told Italian leaders that China is willing to join hands with Italy to carry forward the tradition of friendly cooperation between the two countries, confront the impact of the international financial crisis and promote the China-Italy comprehensive strategic partnership.

    He offered a five-point proposal for promoting bilateral ties, including strengthening high-level exchanges, deepening political mutual trust, expanding pragmatic cooperation to realize mutual benefits, enhancing cultural and educational exchanges and boosting multilateral cooperation to promote world harmony, Yang said.

    Hu's views and proposals with regard to the development of bilateral ties received active response from the Italian leaders.

    The Italian leaders said that Italy and China have maintained historical friendship and bilateral cooperation in various fields has been smooth since the two countries established an all-around strategic partnership in 2004.

    They expressed the will to further expand cooperation with China in such fields as economy and trade, tourism, science and technology and environmental protection.

    The Italian leaders said China has played a vital role on the international arena and the two countries share consensus on a wide range of international issues.

    Italy appreciates China's proposition on building a harmonious world and is willing to enhance cooperation with China on multilateral occasions.

    The Italian side speaks highly of China's measures to confront the international financial crisis and is pleased to see that the policies and measures adopted by the Chinese government to stimulate economic development have already taken effects.

    China's involvement is indispensable for efforts to stave off the impact of the international financial crisis, reform the international financial system and realize sustainable development, the Italian leaders said.

    Yang said President Hu cut short his stay in Italy after concluding a state visit to the country and left for home early Wednesday due to the situation in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

    State Councilor Dai Bingguo will attend the summit of the Group of Eight and major developing countries in the Italian city of L'Aquila on Hu's behalf.

    The date for Hu's state visit to Portugal will be fixed by the Chinese and Portuguese sides some time later.

    Hu arrived in Rome on Sunday for a state visit at the invitation of President Napolitano.

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