RECAP | General Assembly & Caravaggio Exhibition, 28.02, Beijing

On February 28th, the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC) held its annual General Assembly in Beijing at the Italian Cultural Institute. The event gathered Members, Representatives, and Friends of CICC.

The assembly was open with the institutional remarks by H.E. Massimo Ambrosetti, Ambassador of Italy to the P.R.C., Lorenzo Riccardi, CICC Chairman, and Federico R. Antonelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing. Following, Francesco Pensabene, Director of the Italian Trade Agency Beijing Office and Coordinator of the ITA Office in China and Mongolia, presented an update on bilateral trade relations between Italy and China.

Key Highlights of the Event:

• Update on Bilateral Trade: the latest developments in trade relations between Italy and China were presented, along with insights into the activities in supporting Italian businesses in China and Mongolia by the ITA - Italian Trade Agency.
• Presentation of EU SME Centre Services: an overview of the services provided by the EU SME Centre was shared, offering guidance and resources for European small and medium enterprises looking to enter or expand in the Chinese market.
• Approval of the 2024 Financial Statement and 2025 Budget: the financial health of the Chamber was reviewed, with a focus on the 2024 financial results and the budget plan for 2025, outlining key priorities and resource allocations for the upcoming year.
• CICC Activities and Strategic Plans for 2025: a panel discussion with CICC representatives addressed the Chamber’s upcoming initiatives, industry-specific projects, and strategies to further support Italian businesses in China.

A huge thank you to all attendees and speakers who contributed to this meaningful gathering:  

Fabrizio Costa, CICC Secretary General / Liam Ziqi Jia, Team Lead, EU SME Centre.

Giada Piccinini, CICC Treasurer / Andrea Croci, CICC Vice President in the North.

Mauro Maggioni, CICC Vice President in the East / Vinicio Eminenti, CICC Vice Presidente in the South.

The General Assembly ultimately approved – pursuant to Article 10.2 of the Chamber’s Statute – the 2024 Financial Statement, with over 96% of the votes in favor.

Before the assembly, a guided tour of the exhibition "Caravaggio: Worlds of Art" at the National Museum of China was held, organized with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute in Beijing. The tour focused on the most advanced Italian restoration techniques, offering to the participants insights into the methods used to preserve Caravaggio’s masterpiece Maddalena in estasi.