Logo

On the afternoon of October 14, 2024, a government delegation led by Lu Hao, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Changning District Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Shanghai’s Changning District, visited the Palazzo Borghese, where the Sino-Italian Design Exchange Center office is located. The delegation engaged in a productive meeting with representatives from Florence’s political and business sectors, discussing prospects for cultural exchange and business cooperation.

The meeting was attended by Acting Consul General Guan Zhongqi from the Chinese Consulate in Florence, Lu Hao, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Changning District Committee and Deputy District Mayor of Changning District, Mirco Rufilli, Mayor of Florence District 1, Hou Jiaping, Deputy Minister of the Changning District Organization Department, Wang Zhaohui, Deputy Minister of the Changning District Publicity Department and Director of the Cyberspace Affairs Office, Yang Jianan, Deputy Director of the Changning District Government Office and Director of the Administrative Bureau, Fu Lei, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Chengjiaqiao Subdistrict, Ni Jiahui, Party Secretary and Director of the Changning District Market Supervision Administration, Corrado Galli, CEO of the Sino-Italian Design Exchange Center, Enrico Fantini, President of Conflavoro PMI Florence Branch, and Claudio Nardi, founder of Claudio Nardi Architects.

In his speech, Acting Consul General Guan Zhongqi from the Chinese Consulate in Florence noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, with cooperation in culture, business, and other sectors continuing to deepen. He commended Changning District, as an important part of Shanghai, for its outstanding achievements in promoting international development and innovation cooperation. He emphasized that this visit presents a valuable opportunity to further strengthen collaboration between the two regions. In the future, both sides could deepen cooperation in business and cultural fields to achieve shared prosperity and development.

Mr. Lu Hao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Changning District Party Committee and Deputy District Mayor, stated in his speech that Changning District is always committed to promoting innovation and international development. He emphasized the vast potential for cooperation between Changning and Florence in the fields of design, culture, and creative industries. He noted that Changning District boasts a strong market and innovative drive, while Florence holds a unique advantage in culture and creative industries. He looks forward to this visit fostering closer cooperation between the two sides in cultural and creative industries, as well as in green city development.

Mayor of Florence District 1, Mirco Rufilli, highlighted in his speech that Florence, as the birthplace of the European Renaissance, has deep roots in the fields of culture and design. This exchange between Shanghai’s Changning District and Florence lays the foundation for future cooperation, particularly in cultural and creative industries. He expressed his gratitude to the Sino-Italian Design Exchange Center for its significant contribution over the years in building a platform for cooperation between China and Italy in culture, design, and business. He looked forward to the center's continued support in facilitating more creative collaborations between the two regions, driving their mutual development.

CEO of the Sino-Italian Design Exchange Center, Corrado Galli, warmly welcomed the Changning District government delegation. He emphasized that the center serves not only as a platform for cultural cooperation but also as a bridge for business development between China and Italy. He hopes that through more collaborative projects, Florence's strengths in industries can be aligned with Changning District’s market needs, driving innovation and development in the creative industries on both sides.

Conflavoro PMI has over 80,000 affiliated companies spread across Italy's most diverse economic sectors. The association's primary mission is to develop the national entrepreneurial business system. Mr. Enrico Fantini, President of the Florence Branch of Conflavoro, introduced the association's work and mission. He pointed out that in recent years, the association has actively promoted cooperation between small and medium enterprises and the Chinese market. As more Italian SMEs are showing interest in the Chinese market, he hopes that this meeting will lead to further substantial business collaborations, fostering joint development for Chinese and Italian enterprises.

Finally, renowned architect Claudio Nardi shared his team’s innovative ideas in green city design. Mr. Nardi emphasized that green architecture is not only the future trend in design but also an essential response to global climate change. He hopes that through cooperation with Changning District, both sides can further advance innovation and collaboration in the fields of urban planning and green design.