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ROME, Sept. 24-- The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 would provide uNPRecedented opportunities to boost cultural exchanges between Italy and China, officials and experts from both countries said during a conference here on Saturday. The event -- hosted by the Western Returned Scholars Association within the 15th edition of "China in the 21st Century" Forum -- addressed the history of the Sino-Italian relationship, and the best ways to bring it forward in the light of a new "Silk Road spirit." Dating back thousands of years, cultural contacts between China and Italy provided "a relevant heritage" on which contemporary ties were allowed to flourish, according to officials. "When the ancient Rome was in full bloom, more than two thousand years ago, the Chinese civilization was also at its peak," Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Chen Zhu told the audience. Today, the Belt and Road Initiative -- comprising the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road -- aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. It would be be developed in the same spirit of cooperation. Once Europe and Asia have come closer through the Belt and Road Initiative, intermediate countries along the path should also benefit in terms of development, visibility, and stability, former Italian Ambassador to China Alberto Bradanini said. | 
