In a bid to strengthen cultural ties between China and Europe, a promotion conference for the 20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair and the 2024 Shenzhen Design Week was held in Rome, Italy on Friday.

Speaking at the event, Chen Jianwen, the head of the Publicity Department of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, noted that both Shenzhen and Rome boast strong cultural industries. He extended an invitation to Italian friends to visit Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and participate in the fair next year.

The 2023 Shenzhen Design Week is set to open on April 27, showcasing a diverse program that encompasses fashion consumption trends, city branding, and the application of design to solve urban problems.

With a total exhibition area of 180,000 square meters and nine sectors, the?20th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair will take place in Shenzhen from May 23 to 27.

“As an important window of China's reform and opening-up, Guangdong has seen over 40 years of rapid development, with its cultural industry ranking among the top in the country, and Shenzhen is the first city in China to be designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Design,” Chen said.

"Italy is one of Guangdong's most important trading partners in Europe, and we aim to elevate our cultural exchanges and cooperation to new heights," he added.

Zhang Linxiao, cultural counselor of the Embassy of China in Italy, said the cultural and creative industries have been leading the China-Italy bilateral cooperation in recent years.

“Milan Design Week, Triennale Milano, and Milan Fashion Week are actively cooperating with their Chinese counterparts. We welcome more Italian organizations to participate in the ICIF and the Shenzhen Design Week,” said Zhao.

Ugo Papi, assistant to the Mayor of Rome, spoke positively about the exchanges between Shenzhen and Rome across various levels, including on economic and cultural fronts. Papi expressed confidence in the mutually beneficial outcomes of this ongoing partnership.

Around 200 representatives from Guangdong province, Italian National Tourist Board, the Rome city government, and the Regional Council of Lazio attended the conference held in the National Museum of 21st Century Art in Rome.

The event is part of a series of overseas promotional activities for the 2023 Charming China Cultural Exhibition from Guangdong, organized by the Guangdong provincial information office and the provincial department of culture and tourism.

Yi Yang in Shenzhen contributed to the story.