BEIJING — China and Italy on Dec 19 agreed to boost cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The consensus was reached during talks between State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano who is on an official visit to China.

Briefing Alfano on the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Yang hailed the traditional friendship between the two countries and good development momentum of bilateral ties.

Yang called on the two sides to maintain high level exchanges and contact between various departments, deepen pragmatic cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative, and push forward people-to-people exchanges for higher level China-Italy and China-Europe comprehensive strategic partnerships.

Expressing his congratulations on the success of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, Alfano said his country places great importance on developing ties with China.

Italy will play an active role in the construction of the Belt and Road to intensify bilateral ties, the Italian foreign minister stressed.