On January 11, Ca' Foscari University hosted the conference "Italy-China Cultural Relations during the Year of Marco Polo Celebrations", specifically chosen as part of the celebrations for the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo’s death. Leading the discussion on the topic, introduced by the Rector of Ca’ Foscari University Tiziana Lippiello, Massimo Ambrosetti, the Italian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
Before the start of the debate, the institutional greetings: speaking on behalf of the City of Venice the Councilor for the Environment Massimiliano De Martin, who highlighted the importance of dialoguing in establishing cultural relationships. "Regarding this aspect, Marco Polo can be defined as a 'contemporary' figure, in a period of time where international relations were centred on winning and prevaricating. Following the experiences of the great traveller, the City of Venice over the years has pursued a path of dialogue with China, as testified by the friendship pact signed in 1980 with the city of Suzhou. The same city that in 2020, during the Covid emergency, helped our community by sending an initial supply of masks, supporting the Administration while it was navigating such a difficult moment". Councilor De Martin then concluded underlining the importance of the Ambassador's presence at Ca' Foscari: "The role and experience of diplomacy is fundamental to follow the path of getting and sticking together rather than division".
Open to the students of the university and to the public, the conference is one of the first initiatives promoted by the National Committee for the celebrations - recognized by decree of the Ministry of Culture - which sees the Mayor of Venice Luigi Brugnaro as the proposer and the Rector Tiziana Lippiello as president of the Scientific Committee and Coordinator of the Projects.
"The celebrations for the 700 years since Marco Polo’s death are a great opportunity to reflect on the relations between the Italian System and the country of China to relaunch the bilateral strategic relationship - said Ambassador Ambrosetti during his speech - Culture is certainly at the centre of this process, we cannot think that international relations can be linked to Eurocentric conceptual categories. Countries are cultural communities and the comparison must take shape through their identity" he added, confirming the great attention of China at the celebrations underway in Venice.
