On November 9, the first China (Shanghai)–Italy Economic and Financial Forum, one of the majorassociated activities of the Second China International Import Expo, was held at Shanghai Party Institute (Shanghai Administration Institute).

PENG Chenlei, Vice Mayor of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and President of Shanghai Administration Institute, Giovanni Tria, former Minister of Economy and Finance of Italy, and Michele Cecchi, Consul General of Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, attended the forum and delivered speeches. XU Jiangang, Executive Vice President ofSAI (SPI) presided over the opening ceremony, and GUO Qingsong, Vice President of SAI (SPI), presided over the keynote speeches. More than 100 representatives from the financial, banking, business and political circles of China and Italy, as well as experts and scholars from the Party schools (administration institutes) across China attended the forum.
   In his speech, Vice Mayor PENG Chenlei pointed out that China has been forging ahead with the opening-up of the financial industry. As an important financial center of China, Shanghai has taken the lead in launching a series of initiatives, which greatly facilitates financialcooperation between China and Italy. The China-Italy bilateral economic and financial forum provides a platform forthe two sides to share cutting-edge ideas and contribute more wisdom.

At the forum, focusing on the forum theme of “A Healthy Economic and Financial System--Reflection on the Governance of Financial Crisis in Ten Years,”, more than 30 representatives including Fortunato Lambiase, Advisor to the Minister on Economic Affairs, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Italy, CHEN Qiqing, Deputy Director General, Department of Economics of China Academy of Governance, RUAN Qing, Vice Director General of Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, Pasquale Lucio Scandizzo, Professor of Tor Vergata University and Chairman of Open Economics, ZHANG Guohua, Chief Economist of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and JI Zhihai, Vice Chairman of Zhejiang Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Executive President of Italy-China Friendship Association (ICFA), delivered keynote speeches and special lectures.

To better show the determination of Shanghai to further open up, the forum also released Think Tank’sReport on Realization of Three New Important Missions in Shanghai compiled by a research group at Shanghai Party Institute (Shanghai Administration Institute).Meanwhile, representatives from the financial, banking, business and political circles of China and Italy exchanged views on economic and financial cooperation between Shanghai and Italy.