Luo Weidong (L), vice-president of Zhejiang University, and Silvia Alessandri, deputy director of the National Central Library of Florence, pose with  A Collection of Yuan Dynasty Paintings, a large-scale dynastic collection of Chinese painting history published by Zhejiang University Press. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Italian office will also establish an internationalized publishing platform and marketing network facing the whole world step by step, trying to bring a truer, more modern, and more beautiful China to the world and introduce more Italian, European and world cultures to Chinese readers by purchasing books and copyrights from international markets.

Silvia Alessandri, deputy director of the National Central Library of Florence welcomed the establishment of Zhejiang University Press Italian Office. He said that Italy – even the whole Europe – has become more and more interested in the development of Chinese economy and culture. Thus, the establishment of Italian office will serve as a bridge for the cultural exchange of both sides.

Luo and Lu donated A Collection of Yuan Dynasty Paintings, a large-scale dynastic collection of Chinese painting history published by Zhejiang University Press to the National Central Library of Florence at the ceremony.

Then Lu and Stefano Chinellato, president of Cafoscarina Press, announced the first publication of the Italian edition of The Travels of Xu Xiake jointly published by Zhejiang University Press and Cafoscarina Press, which indicated the opening of Zhejiang University Press Italian Office.

The Travels of Xu Xiake is a renowned geographic and literary work in China. Xu Hongzu, pseudonym Xiake, spent 34 years traveling around China in the late Ming Dynasty. He traveled to Putuo in the east, Hebei in the north, Guangdong in the south, and Yunnan and Guizhou in the west. During his trip in 16 provinces in Ming Dynasty, Xu "climbed up to the top of Mount Hua and crossed Canglang River", overcoming all difficulties and hazards along the way. He wrote 17 travel records about Tiantai Mountain, Yandang Mountains, Yellow Mountain, and Mount Lu, along with Travel Diaryin Zhejiang, Travel Diary in Jiangxi, Travel Diary in the Then Territory of Chu, Travel Diary in West Guangdong, Travel Diary in Guizhou, Travel Diary in Yunnanand other works, the number of words reaching more than 600,000 (about 1/10 of the total number of words) excluding those which have long been scattered and lost.