ROME, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Leading French and Italian industrialists issued a joint declaration Friday urging closer business ties as drivers of a more unified, forward-looking and prosperous Europe.
The 11-point declaration came at the close of a two-day business forum that ended in Rome on Friday and was attended by Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire, and 50 captains of industry from both countries.
It follows on the announcement earlier this month by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni that Italy and France are at work on a new bilateral treaty that will lead to a stronger, more united European Union (EU) -- the only antidote to rising nationalism and populism, the two leaders said.
Italy's next general election on March 4, which is being described in international media as the next great test for the European Union, sees populist, anti-immigrant and protectionist forces pitted against pro-EU, pro-free trade parties.
"I believe France and Italy can work together to give Europe the right global dimension," Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan told Friday's forum in televised remarks.
He was echoed by his French counterpart. "We strongly believe in economic and industrial cooperation between France and Italy," Le Maire told reporters in footage he posted on his Twitter account.
He cited French-Italian electronics and semiconductor manufacturer STMicroelectronics, which just posted "800 million euros in 2017 profits" as evidence of the "exceptional results" the two countries can reach when they work together.
"If we want to carry weight in the face of industrial giants such as the U.S. or China we must bring our industrial, research and innovation forces together," Le Maire added.
The forum's final document called for completion of the EU economic, monetary and banking union, ensuring the transition to low-carbon and digital economies, educating highly skilled new generations, and investing in sustainable development in Africa to prevent mass migration to Europe.
The declaration also stated that Italy and France have a shared interest in "a European defence industrial policy" and will cooperate in space, cybersecurity, and related fields.
"We have a dream: that Europe become a more competitive place to do business, an ideal place for the young. We are proud of this joint declaration... a document which speaks European and thinks European," tweeted Vincenzo Boccia, the chief of Italian industrialists federation Confindustria.
