The Olympic Games serve as a bridge of friendship among peoples around the world, and the forthcoming Beijing Olympics will promote the understanding among them, said Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

He made the remarks when holding talks with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, also wishing the event a big success.

Berlusconi expressed his satisfactions with the ties and cooperation between Italy and China in all fields, hoping that the two countries will continue their dialogues and their economic and trade relations will be further boosted.

Italy is also willing to make contributions to the development of EU-China ties and offer more aid to China in its relief efforts after the May 12 earthquake in Sichuan province, he said.

Yang, for his part, voiced China's sincere gratitude for Italy's help, saying China is willing to make joint efforts with Italy to promote the comprehensive development of friendly relationship and turn it into a model for bilateral ties by boosting political dialogues, pragmatic cooperation and cultural and personnel exchanges.

Since the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2004, the bilateral ties have seen an all-round progress in the cooperation of various fields, said Yang.

Witnessed by a good momentum, extending and deepening such cooperation and exchanges enjoys a good foundation and a bright prospect, he said.

Yang also met with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, during which the two diplomats agreed to keep the exchanges by top leaders of the two countries, promote cooperation on the intentional arena, deepen strategic consultation and expand economic and trade cooperation, cultural and social exchange as well as the cooperation in the consular and judicial fields.