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Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Sept. 3, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

HANGZHOU, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday and both pledged efforts to improve bilateral cooperation.

Xi welcomed Renzi's attendance at the G20 summit, on Sunday and Monday, saying China is willing to work with Italy to push forward their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Chinese president proposed that China and Italy continue to trust and respect each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, and deepen exchanges between their governments, legislatures and political parties.

He hoped Italy would be an active participant of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

The two countries shall enhance people-to-people exchanges to deepen their traditional friendship, and strengthen coordination on global and regional affairs to contribute to a new type of international relations that value cooperation and mutual benefit, Xi said.

The two sides shall maintain the good momentum of China-Europe ties by taking concrete measures to realize their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, he said.

Referring to the long history of the friendship between the two nations, Renzi said Italy would like to deepen its cooperation with China in economy and trade, finance, port construction, culture as well as health care.

He said Italy was willing to participate in the Belt and Road construction and wished the G20 summit a great success.