On the afternoon of July 6, Shao Qiwei, chairman of the National Tourism Administration of China had a working meeting with Michela Brambilla, Italian Minister of Tourism in the Prime Minister's Office in Italy, and after that they held a press conference together.

During the talks, they both fully recognized the importance of signing a tourism memorandum between the two countries, and gave a positive evaluation for the leaders of the two countries who attached importance to the cooperation in tourism. Shao Qiwei said that the China-Italy cooperation in tourism had a good foundation. Signature of the Tourism Memorandum marked that the cooperation between the two countries has entered a new phase, and surely it will greatly promote the bilateral cooperation and development of tourism. Michela Brambilla said that Italy would like to establish the consultative work mechanism with China quickly, and put into effect the specific cooperation items about tourism memorandum. They agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism promotion during "Chinese Culture Year" period in Italy next year. They planed to set May of next year as a promotion month for China-Italy tourism. Shao Qiwei said that the World Expo will be held in Shanghai China in 2010 and the next World Expo will be held in Milan Italy in 2015, which pose a good opportunity for China and Italy to promote tourism and develop in-depth cooperation. They hoped that China-Italy cooperation on tourism could promote tourism cooperation between China and EU countries further as well.

At the press conference, Michela Brambilla said that the Italian Government attached great importance to strengthening cooperation with China on tourism, and expressed his appreciation for Shao Qiwei's series of recommendations on the implementation of the Tourism Memorandum between the two countries. They were willing to work with China to launch the promotion month of China-Italy tourism in May next year. He will attend the Shanghai World Expo with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Shao Qiwei expressed satisfaction with the China-Italy cooperation on tourism for recent years, recalled fondly the situation of China-Italy cooperation on tourism. He introduced the development of tourism industry in China and its response to the international financial crisis; he also prospected the two-way tourism market between China and Italy. He said that he will push forward the practical implementation of the Tourism Memorandum and welcome more and more Italian friends to come to visit China.