First Chinese Day in Milan boosts Sino-Italian exchanges

Abstract:
The first "Chinese Day" organized by "Politecnico di Milano" University was held here on Friday to foster relations between Italy and China.

"With 570 Chinese students presently studying at Politecnico di Milano, China is our most important partner," rector Giovanni Azzone said at the "Chinese Day" conference, which was attended by Chinese Consul-general to Milan Liang Hui and other officials.

"The Politecnico di Milano was the first university in Italy to establish a vice rector for China entirely dedicated to follow the growing number of projects with China,"said Azzone, who last April participated in the centennial anniversary of the founding of Tsinghua University.

"What I most clearly experienced is our Chinese friends' genuine will to build cultural, economic and scientific bridges with Italy,"vice rector for China, Giuliano Noci, told Xinhua, adding the two peoples show "great respect one to each other due to the millenary culture they have in common."

"China is a top priority for us. The country that invented the compass, the gunpowder, the paper and the printing is set for a global comeback,"he stressed.

During the "Chinese day," international students of Politecnico di Milano shared their experiences and impressions with representatives of the academic, institutional and business world.

"Being an architecture student, I felt the need to know (the) country of art -- Italy," said a student from Xi'An, Chen Xing, who joined Politecnico over a year ago, adding that high-quality international exchanges stimulate creativity and promote communication among peoples from all over the world.

Founded in 1863, Politecnico di Milano is the largest technical university in Italy. Two renowned architects who were awarded the Pritzker Prize, Aldo Rossi and Renzo Piano, graduated from Politecnico di Milano as well as Giulio Natta, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his research on polymers.