March 9th, 2015

(Source: www.xinhuanet.com) - An APECF delegation led by executive vice chairman Xiao Wunan met former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at the International University for Liberty on March 9, 2015. They had comprehensive and in-depth discussions and reached consensus on the areas of cooperation including education, media, sports and health. They signed an MOU.

Mr. Berlusconi is a senior Italian politician. He served three terms as Italian Prime Minister, was once President of the European Commission and successfully promoted the G8 Summit. He is referred to as one of the three most influential people in the world along with Mr. Vladimir Putin and Mr. Barack Obama. Mr. Berlusconi has worldwide influence and a legendary life experience, making great advances in the areas of business, media, sports, etc. He was ranked No. 1 in Italy's Fortune List for years, founding and leading many world class media groups, leading and managing the AC Milan football club to become the most successful and influential football club in history.

The Asia Pacific Exchange & Cooperation Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by dignitaries, renowned scholars, social activists, internationally influential entrepreneurs and think tank researchers in the Asia-Pacific region. The foundation has engaged in extensive and constructive communication and cooperation with many governments and other organizations in the region. The foundation aims to create a platform for open dialogue and a consultation mechanism to promote regional exchanges, cooperation and resolution of disputes. Moreover, the foundation seeks to achieve the revival of eastern civilization in today's fast changing world by utilizing its influence, creativity and action, as well as through public diplomacy, strategic research and public service, in an effort to promote world peace and the well-being of all mankind. In recent years APECF has promoted bilateral relations between China and Italy. For example, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi attended the China-Italy Economic and Trade Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on June 11, 2014 where China's Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng and Italian Minister of Economic Development Federica Guidi witnessed the signing of an agreement to launch the China-Italy Center. On October 16, the China-Italy Science and Technology Innovation Week opened at the Polytechnic University of Milan. It was co-hosted by China's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research. The Chinese Premier and the Italian Prime Minister attended the event and delivered speeches. APECF and many institutions signed an MOU to set up the China-Italy Fund.

Contact between China and Italy has had a long history, The traditional friendship between the two countries dates back centuries with bilateral relations enjoying stability for a long period of time, Italy has served as a bridge of cooperation between China and Europe. APECF has promoted Sino-Italian cooperation to a new level due to the interaction with former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

During its visit, the APECF delegation toured the "Expo Milano 2015 Aquae Venezia" under construction in the city of Venice. The director of Aquae Venezia accompanied the APECF delegation, briefed the delegation on the construction progress and invited APECF to comprehensively join in the management of the Aquae Venezia. They had broad discussions on relevant matters and reached many consensuses.