In an increasingly connected world, shared social and education policies can play a key role in fostering fruitful collaboration between China and Italy, Italian scholars said in comments on Premier Li Keqiang's recent visit to Italy.

While Chinese and Italian companies were signing deals worth 8 billion euros ($10 billion) in Rome last week, meetings held in various parts of Italy highlighted new "Silk Roads" - from education programs to cooperation on disability issues and environmental protection.

On Saturday, Milan hosted the Meeting of Group of Friends on Disability Issues. For the first time, disability was also included in the agenda of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) that closed in Milan on Friday, thanks to China's active part in advocating cooperation in the field of disability among ASEM member countries.