In recent days, the “China Tourism and Culture Week” kicked off in Milan, Italy. It aims to further promote cultural and tourism cooperation between China and Italy. During the event, the traditional Chinese cultural performances including lion dance and dragon dance, Taichi, ethnic music, calligraphy, paper-cutting and Beijing Opera have won much popularity among local residents. The idea of traveling around China struck a lot of people as they could witness its rapid development while appreciating its natural landscapes.
“An increasing number of Italian people show great interest to Chinese history, culture and arts, and more Italian tourists choose to travel in China” said Fabrizio Cavaglieri, who has engaged in tourism industry for more than 20 years, adding that many tourists are amazed by a beautiful, clean and safe China when they come there. The travel agency he works for has developed a “Silk Road” travel route and he will lead the Italian tourists into Xinjiang and Gansu next month to enjoy China’s landscapes along the ancient silk road.
Monaco Giampaolo, head of Italian Dragon and Lion Dance Sports Association, is fluent in Chinese. He said he was obsessed with Chinese culture because of Chinese Kungfu in his childhood. Besides, he also paid a special visit to China in 2004 to learn from Chinese tutor in dragon dance and lion dance. “We hope to spread Chinese culture. Therefore, the shows will have been not only staged in Italy but also in other countries so as to enable people to fall in love with Chinese culture.” he said.
During the culture week, a dialogue on culture and tourism and the “Beautiful China” tourism promotional event took place in Da Vinci National Museum of Science and Technology. The promotional event focuses on various topics such as the opportunities and challenges faced by Chinese and Italian enterprises, the 40 years of development and changes of China’s tourism market as well as the development of financial services and tourism industry. More than 200 representatives of both countries were present.
“Italy and China boast a long history of friendship and culture comprises an important part of China-Italy friendship,” said Alessandra Priante, head of international affairs and protocol of Agriculture and Tourism. “More Chinese tourists are hoped to visit Italy and experience its history, culture, design and food.”
“With a long history and rich tourism resources, China and Italy have conducted a large range of governmental cooperation in cultural and tourism fields, such as protecting cultural heritage and combating cultural heritage smuggling.” said Rosanna Binacchi, head of foreign affairs of Cultural Events and Heritage,
“Though two distant nations, they have a long history of friendly exchanges. Meanwhile, they are both rich in cultural and tourism resources, which serve as a solid foundation for developing cultural and tourism cooperation. The running of the “Year of Culture and Tourism” activities in each country in 2020 will inject new impetus to cultural and tourism cooperation between two sides.” said Feng Litao, head of the cultural and tourism promotion delegation.