GENOA, Italy, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Members of a delegation from Italy's Liguria region have voiced optimism about expanding cooperation with China in ports, logistics and trade, saying they hope to tap new opportunities through the upcoming fourth China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE).
Speaking to Xinhua ahead of their departure for Beijing on Saturday, delegation members said the expo provides an important platform for strengthening business ties and promoting practical cooperation at a time when global supply chain players are seeking stability amid growing global uncertainties.
The CISCE will open on June 22 in Beijing and run until June 26. According to the representative office in Italy of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), members of the delegation include regional government officials, representatives of business associations and executives from 20 leading companies covering sectors including logistics, shipping, port management, international trade and digital technologies.
Located in northwestern Italy, Liguria is home to several major ports and serves as one of the country's most important maritime gateways. The Port of Genoa and the region's wider port network occupy a strategic position along Mediterranean shipping routes and play a key role in Italy's foreign trade and European supply chains.
"We are very honored to have been invited to participate in this important event and hope to further deepen cooperation with China," said Massimiliano Nannini, head of cabinet of the Liguria regional government and head of the delegation.
"There is significant room for cooperation between Italy and China in industry, logistics, digitalization and operational management systems," said Davide Falteri, president of Federlogistica, the Italian federation of logistics operators.
In his view, identifying development opportunities through openness and cooperation is particularly important for the logistics sector.
Meanwhile, Giampaolo Botta, general manager of Spediporto, Genoa's Association of Freight Forwarders, Couriers and Transporters, told Xinhua that companies seeking to expand exports need reliable partners in today's uncertain international environment.
"Liguria is actively participating in the CISCE because the Chinese market represents stability and reliability," Botta said. "China offers enormous business opportunities."
From the ports along the Mediterranean coast to the exhibition halls of the CISCE in Beijing, the Liguria delegation's journey revolves around cooperation.
For a region renowned for its maritime economy and international connectivity, the visit is not merely a trip to an international expo, but an opportunity to build partnerships and connect with broader markets.
