Matteo Renzi, prime minister of Italy
Dates: September 4, 2016; April 11, 2016
Places: Hangzhou, China; Verona, Italy
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi visited Alibaba's Xixi headquarters during his time in Hangzhou for the G20 summit. They toasted the Tmall Wine and Spirits Festival held later that month.
He invited Jack Ma to attend Vintaly, the largest wine show in the world, on April 11, 2016. Although Renzi and Ma had met five times previously, this was the first time they held an open dialogue. At Vintaly, Ma announced “Wine Day”, the first ever Tmall International Wine & Spirits Festival, will launch on September 9, which in Renzi's opinion will mark a turning point for Italian wine in China.