Chinese and Italian counterparts share ideas. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

As China and Italy mark their 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2025, a delegation of Italian companies from Rome and Milan returned to Hangzhou on Nov 17 and 18 for a cooperation event.

The visit followed a successful investment promotion trip by Hangzhou earlier this year and highlighted growing interest from Italian businesses in the city's innovation ecosystem.

During the event, Italian guests visited major innovation platforms such as the Zhejiang University Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center to learn how the city speeds up the process of research commercialization. Hangzhou's strong policy support, robust talent base, and expanding proof-of-concept and pilot testing facilities were frequently cited as advantages.

Pragmatic collaboration was also in focus. AstraZeneca shared its long-term China strategy and growing footprint in Hangzhou, while the Italy-China Chamber of Commerce highlighted that over 60 percent of Italy's direct investment in China is located in East China.

Cultural and creative collaboration is also deepening. Italian fashion organizations and Hangzhou's E-Fashion Town in Linping district are advancing designer exchanges and industry-academia cooperation. Linping's fashion cluster — home to more than 7,800 enterprises — has grown into a major hub with a total output exceeding 20 billion yuan ($2.8 billion).

As Italian companies explore opportunities in biomedicine, advanced manufacturing, and fashion, Hangzhou is positioning itself as an open, innovative gateway for global cooperation. The city aims to become a preferred destination for Italian investment and a model for regional China-Italy partnership in the next 50 years.

An agreement is reached at the event. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]