On April 24, 2025, Ambassador Paolo Sabbatini, a senior Italian diplomat, delivered a keynote speech at the Italian Innovation Center, providing an in-depth analysis of the opportunities and challenges of China's cultural diplomacy.

The Italian Innovation Center was honored to invite Ambassador Paolo Sabbatini, a senior Italian diplomat, to deliver a special speech on "Contemporary Practices and Development Prospects of China's Cultural Diplomacy". The event was hosted by the President of the Italian Innovation Center ，XuShunwu, attracting more than 100 guests from diplomacy, academia, culture and other fields.

During the speech, leveraging his rich diplomatic experience and profound cultural insight, Ambassador Sabbatini systematically expounded on the current development of China's cultural diplomacy. He specifically noted: "At a time when globalization and anti-globalization trends coexist, China's cultural diplomacy faces both unprecedented opportunities and challenges in navigating complex international public opinion environments."

1. Cultural Communication Practices: He affirmed China's remarkable achievements in promoting traditional culture and exporting modern cultural content.

2. Value Communication: He explored unique pathways for value dissemination against the backdrop of diverse civilizational contexts.

3. Construction of International Influence: He proposed key breakthrough points for enhancing cultural soft power.

In his address, Xu Shunwu, President of the Italian Innovation Center, stated: "Ambassador Sabbatini's speech has provided us with a valuable perspective for understanding the complexities of cultural diplomacy. In the current international landscape, strengthening dialogue among civilizations and promoting cultural mutual learning are more important than ever."

After the speech, the Ambassador engaged in in-depth discussions with on-site guests on topics such as "Innovation in Cultural Diplomacy in the Digital Age" and "The Demonstrative Significance of Cultural Exchanges between China and Italy". Many attending scholars stated that the Ambassador's insights have provided important inspiration for further cooperation in the cultural field between China and Italy.

• Ambassador Paolo Sabbatini: He served as the Director - General of the Department of International Relations of the Italian Ministry of Culture and has over 30 years of diplomatic experience.

• The Italian Innovation Center: It is a crucial platform dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges and innovative cooperation between China and Italy.

• 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China - Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism.