Beijing. Bologna is ready to welcome Chinese visitors. On March 10th, in the ‘Red Room’ of Palazzo d’Accursio, in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to Italy Li Ruiyu; the Mayor of Bologna Virginio Merola presented Bologna’s commitment to the “Welcome Chinese” project becoming the first city in Italy to sign a memorandum of understanding in order to bring China closer for tourism, the economy and business. Yesterday morning, in Beijing, at the China Tourism Academy, a body of the Chinese Ministry of Tourism; Matteo Lepore, Councillor for the Economy and Promotion of Bologna, International Relations of the City of Bologna met with President of China Tourism Academy Dai Bin. They jointly signed the agreement effectively launching a three-year partnership to open the City to Chinese visitors. The objective of the mission, in addition to the agreement is also to lay the foundation for closer trade cooperation with leading Chinese tour operators and to one day establish a direct air route. (9Colonne)