Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Beijing, China, June 11, 2014. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

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China, Italy pledge efforts to cement partnership

BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi here on Wednesday and both pledged efforts to strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

During their meeting at the Great Hall of the People, Xi hailed the friendship between the two nations dating back to legendary Italian explorer Marco Polo and missionary Matteo Ricci. Full story