Trade representatives from Italy and Tianjin, a port city about 120 kilometers southeast to Beijing, signed on Sunday agreements on seven cooperation programs with a total investment of 192 million U.S. dollars.

These deals were signed during the visit of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in the city, the fourth leg of his first China visit after he took office in May.

The programs include a desalinator project and a logistic base near the international airport of the city.

Prodi, who arrived in Tianjin on Saturday night, visited the Tianjin Port, the Tianjin Steel Pipe Corporation and the former Italian concession in the city in the early 20th century.

The concession area is now home to the Italian trade commission's Tianjin office. Prodi attended the opening ceremony of the office.

China and Italy share broad prospect of economic cooperation. By the end of 2005, there are 1, 470 Italian companies in China.

Source: Xinhua