Feature: China National Day at Milan Expo ignites interest in China

"It is very interesting to see what China has brought to the Expo," Ireland Pavilion Commissioner John Kennedy told Xinhua shortly ahead of the China National Day that was celebrated at the world exposition in Italy's Milan on Monday.

"Even before the Expo started there was a sense of anticipation about what China would bring," Kennedy said. "I think anyone who cares about Expo would realize that the Chinese participation is now one of the exposition's cornerstones," he added.

Kennedy said this for many people is a unique opportunity they get to interact with China. "And it is wonderful that China made the commitment to send a strong representation to boost her profile and introduce herself to the many countries that are here. China National Day would be a great success," he stressed.

In fact, China National Day was a great success, Alessandra Spalletta, a columnist of AGI news agency told Xinhua, after raising of the flag and opening ceremony. "I heard many colleagues and friends of mine speaking very positively about the China Pavilion, and so did many visitors on social media," she said.

"I see there is a clear will from the Chinese government to increase exchanges with Italy and better know our country. I wish there will be a strengthened vision and strategy also from the Italian side to boost collaboration in many fields, starting from the cultural one," Spalletta added.

Carlo Capria, an official of the Italian presidency of the council of ministers, on Monday visited the China Pavilion, where an exhibition of photos celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy and another one dedicated to the beauty of Chinese countryside were on stage for the occasion.

"Italy shares with China thousands of years of history. Today we know well both the potential of the Chinese market for the export of made-in-Italy, but recently we are also appreciating the quality and excellencies of the made-in-China that we want to import into Italy," he explained to Xinhua.

Capria also insisted on the importance of collaboration at the university level between the two countries in order to form "cross-cultural managers" able to ease communication between China and Italy.

"China is a great country that I visited several times and would like to know more and more. China is now more technologically advanced than Europe thus can be our partner in many fields," said Paolo Besozzi, CEO of Concessioni Autostradali Lombarde, a motorway concession company in Lombardy region, whose capital city is Milan.

Besozzi told Xinhua that he eyes a growth of Chinese investments in Italy, including in the sector of infrastructures, also fostered by the recent birth of an alternative international bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Besides authorities, many Expo visitors were also able to attend China's celebrations on Monday. Chinese dance, Peking Opera, acrobatics, Taiji performance, violin and piano concert and also a football match between the young champions of Italy and China animated the Expo site in various moments of the day.

"I do not know very much about China but I was immediately fascinated by this building, I am going to visit it," a student, Elisa Rossi, told Xinhua referring to the rippling wheat-shaped China Pavilion, the second largest foreign pavilion next to Germany's at Expo Milano 2015.

"Talking of China now, it is natural to think to its economy. But I am very curious to learn about this huge country's culture and today, the China National Day, will be a good start," the girl said. Enditem