ROME, May 6 -- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Rome on Thursday after the 7th joint meeting of Sino-Italian governmental committee and the 3rd meeting of Sino-Italian businessmen association.

Italy attaches great importance to China's status and influence in the world, and hopes to deepen friendly relations with China, strengthen mutual beneficial cooperation in the areas such as trade, investment, and push forward Italy-China comprehensive strategic partnership, Renzi said during the meeting.

Renzi said he looks forward to attending the G20 summit set for September in Hangzhou, China and is willing to work closely with the Chinese side to help achieve positive results for the summit.

At the meeting, Wang Yi noted that positive progress has been made in bilateral cooperation in five priority areas agreed by both countries' leaders.

The Chinese side is willing to tap new fields of China-Italy cooperation, step up efforts to create synergy between development strategies of both countries, and promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, the Chinese foreign minister said.

China appreciates the active role of the Italian side in the implementation of the Belt and Road initiative, and is willing to work with the Italian side for common development and prosperity in both countries and in Eurasia, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister welcomed Renzi to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou, saying the Chinese government is willing to enhance dialogue with the Italian government in order to ensure success of the event.