[photopress:prodi.jpg,full,alignright]Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has called for closer cooperation between Italian port cities and Shanghai. In a meeting with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng he said Italy and China should jointly accelerate the development of the logistics industry and expand sea routes to Europe through Italian ports.
Romano Prodi said his trip to Shanghai was to highlight economic, trade, cultural and educational cooperation, strengthen Shanghai’s role as an access for Italian businesses to the Chinese markets and at the same time enhance Italy’s part in serving as a gateway to the European market for Chinese businesses. In other words, Italy becoming the entry point for much of Europe which, while theoretically possible, has serious opposition from ports like Hamburg. It is very possible that the idea of being Europe’s entry point loomed large in his mind.
According to latest statistics, Italy has directly invested in 341 projects in Shanghai, with a total contractual investment of $403 million, covering garments, bags, auto parts and building materials.
Romano Prodi visited Nanjing and Guangzhou before coming to Shanghai and he is also going to Tianjin, the port city in north China.
Source: Xinhuanet