On May 13, marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Italy and the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties with the European Union, Romano Prodi, former Prime Minister of Italy and former President of European Commission, visited Renmin University of China (RUC) and delivered a speech.
Daniele Giovanni, Visiting Professor at the University of Bologna, accompanied Prodi. Zhang Donggang (Chair of the University Council), Lin Shangli (President of RUC) and faculty and student representatives attended the event.
Zhang Donggang extended a warm welcome to Prodi and his delegation. He noted that in recent years, China-Italy educational exchanges and cooperation have flourished. RUC has long prioritized the role of philosophy and social sciences in bridging Chinese and foreign cultures and enhancing exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations, boasting a robust foundation and fruitful outcomes in collaboration with Italy. Looking ahead, RUC aims to deepen cultural exchanges, establish joint research centers, and promote youth interactions with Italian higher education institutions, building on the enduring friendship between the two nations.
Prior to the speech, Lin Shangli delivered a welcome address on behalf of the university. He emphasized that development remains the eternal theme of human society. By profoundly understanding historical logic, systematically deepening theoretical frameworks, and scientifically applying practical insights, RUC seeks to concentrate superior scientific research resources and contributes to global solutions for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable development by refining the precious experience, responding to practical challenges and grasping the golden opportunity during social development.
Prodi’s speech, titled China-EU Relations in the New Century Order, explored new opportunities and pathways for China-EU collaboration. He highlighted the profound shifts in the global order and the critical need for candid, in-depth dialogue mechanism between China and the EU.
Prodi stressed that at this historic juncture, we must adopt a crystal-clear perspective to navigate transforming world. He praised emerging global cooperation opportunities which have created unprecedented opportunities for developing China-EU relations and urged precise understanding of the global revolution and proactive engagement to harness the potential of collaboration. Despite Europe’s current complexities, he commended the time-tested China-EU partnership, built on mutual support and win-win cooperation, which has formed the most consolidated foundation of common development between China and the EU. With combined GDP accounting for one-third of the global total, he emphasized vast untapped collaboration potential in areas like renewable energy and infrastructure construction. Facing sophisticated situation, Prodi called for multilateralism, strengthened the mechanism of collaboration in areas like economic and climate. He concluded that Only by embracing openness and win-win cooperation can China and the EU achieve common development under the new-century order.
Reflecting on his tenure as Italy’s Prime Minister and his visit to Beijing, Prodi marveled at China’s development over recent decades, noting its achievement of modernization without colonization or war and praised it a model for other nations’ development. He acknowledged the challenges of balancing diverse interests and making policies that meets the requirement of collective development but praised China’s resolve and wisdom in pursuing such goals. Prodi lauded the role of the Belt and Road Initiative in connecting Eurasia and delivering tangible benefits to European nations, fueling deeper China-EU ties. Amid global uncertainties, he said “standing in this intellectual sanctuary of Renmin University of China, I would like to particularly emphasize that we must maintain an open and inclusive mindset and seek the greatest common ground in our development.”
Following the speech, the CDG Research Team of RUC’s School of Applied Economics released a study titled Challenges and Prospects for Human and Social Comprehensive Development: From Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to Comprehensive Development Goals (CDGs). Prodi highly commended China’s achievements in poverty reduction and sustainable development, expressing hope that Chinese expertise would assist Global South nations in achieving similar progress.
(Romano Prodi engaged in a dialogue with Zhai Dongsheng, Dean of School of Global and Area Studies and Vice Dean of School of International Relations, Renmin University of China.)
(Romano Prodi engaged in a round table dialogue with Wang Wen, Dean of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies and School of Global Leadership at Renmin University of China, and Xie Linyu, Professor at School of Applied Economics, while Wei Chu, Dean of the School of Applied Economics, chaired the session.)
Prodi communicated with present youth students. When asked “how can China and EU establish a robust cooperation mechanism amid the current international situation filled with uncertainties”, Prodi addressed that despite the countercurrents of deglobalization, the trend toward globalization remains irreversible. China and the EU exhibit strong complementarities in economic development, technological innovation, and green transition. By deepening collaboration in these areas, the two sides can generate more efficient win-win outcomes than ever before.
(A delegation led by Romano Prodi visited the Museum of Renmin University of China.)
Mutual respect, solidarity, and harmonious coexistence represent the right path for human civilization. RUC reaffirmed its commitment to deepening dialogue with European institutions, contributing intellectual rigor to a changing world and advancing China-EU relations through RUC’s wisdom and vitality.
