Highlights of president's bilateral meetings

Italy

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Italy is pleased to see the bilateral relationship with China get "increasingly close".

Italy expects to deepen cooperation with China in fields including trade, finance, culture and healthcare, he said.

He added that his country is ready to take part in building the Belt and Road Initiative.

President Xi Jinping said progress in bilateral cooperation in recent years has brought tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

Beijing and Rome should stick to the main direction of strategic mutual trust and respect each other's core interests and major concerns, he said.