Shaanxi, inland province in Northwest China and starting point of the ancient Silk Road linking China and Europe, continued to promote its cooperation with Italy, cradle of European culture, during a recent forum.

The Shaanxi Province and Italy Cooperation Forum was held on Wednesday at Airport New City in Xixian New Area, a national-level urban development zone between Xi'an, the capital of the province, and its neighboring city, Xianyang.

Sponsored by the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, the ICE-Italian Trade Promotion Agency and Italy Aerospace and Aviation Enterprise Association, as well as supported by Shaanxi provincial government and the Italian embassy in China, the forum's theme was centered around aerospace-aviation, environmental protection technology, healthcare and tourism. It attracted related industry associations and enterprises from the two countries to pursue further cooperation and exchanges.

Ettore Sequi, Italy's ambassador to China, said at the event that Rome and Xi'an are both listed as two of the top four ancient world capitals and the cooperation between Italy and Shaanxi will play a more important role in the Belt and Road Initiative.

"Italy is willing to contribute to Xi'an and Shaanxi's development in the fields of aerospace and aviation, environmental protection, healthcare and tourism industries," the Italian ambassador said.

He announced that Italy plans to open a visa application center in Xi'an in the near future and local people will be able to get a visa to Italy within 36 hours.

Su Jie'ao, vice president of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, introduced information about Italian-invested enterprises in China and said he hoped the province will find more cooperative opportunities with Italian enterprises.

He Jian, director of Airport New City's administration committee, said that Airport New City has been cooperating with Italy for the construction of the China-Italy Aviation Industrial Valley in the city. The two sides will carry more extensive exchanges and cooperation in aviation technology exchange, enterprises and projects introduction, international market development and international trade, he said.

"We will jointly build a cooperation platform for aviation technology and industry in the valley and further promote the development of the aviation technology and industrial cluster," the director said.

At the end of the forum, three agreements for cooperation in aviation and environmental protection were signed by Chinese and Italian companies.