The China-Italy Cultural Encyclopedia · Art, comprising both Chinese and Italian editions, was officially launched on June 21 at the National Convention Center during the closing of the 32nd Beijing International Book Fair. The work represents a collaborative effort between Chinese and Italian cultural and publishing institutions to highlight the rich artistic heritages and long-standing cultural exchanges between the two nations.

The project was initiated by Massimo Ambrosetti, the Italian ambassador to China, and spearheaded by the Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Pechino. The Encyclopedia of China Publishing House and Italy’s Istituto Treccani jointly produced the encyclopedia, aiming to present the millennia-old civilizations of China and Italy through a comprehensive artistic lens.

In his remarks at the launch event, Federico Roberto Antonelli, cultural counselor at the Italian embassy in China, described the publication as a significant milestone in Sino-Italian cultural cooperation. He underscored its scholarly and communicative importance, noting that the book will be recorded as a key moment in the history of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Peng Feng, chief editor of the Chinese edition and a professor at Peking University’s School of Arts, highlighted the deep historical foundation of cultural exchange between China and Italy, tracing ties back more than two thousand years to the Han Dynasty and ancient Roman times. He pointed to contemporary examples of artistic collaboration, such as the exhibition “Hommage to the Virtuosos: From Leonardo da Vinci to Caravaggio — Masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance” at the National Art Museum of China and the China Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, as reflections of an ongoing, extensive relationship.

The Italian edition’s chief editor, Massimo Osanna, director general of museums at Italy’s Ministry of Culture, was invited to lead the Italian team, said Massimo Bray, general director of Istituto Treccani. Bray noted that the project brought together a distinguished group of art historians from both countries, with the goal of showcasing the significant roles of Chinese and Italian civilizations in the global history of art.

Wen Zheng, a professor of Italian language and literature at Beijing Foreign Studies University, commented on the cultural resonances shared between China and Italy, both of which hold the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites worldwide. He emphasized that the encyclopedia not only allows readers to engage with these civilizations but also strengthens the enduring cultural friendship between the two nations.

Gao Shiyi, president of the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, remarked that this publication marks the first major cross-border collaboration between the two countries' foremost encyclopedia publishers. He framed the project as a model of successful international cooperation in publishing, facilitated by joint research, compilation, and an international editorial board that enhances the exchange of academic resources and brand strengths within a growing global trend in the industry.