A new Italian culture professorship is being established in China to promote Italy and foster dialogue between the two countries. President Sergio Mattarella attended the inauguration of the Agnelli Chair of Italian Culture, which is housed and managed by the China-Europe Philanthropy Innovation Research Center (Cepirc) at Beida, the University of Beijing. The professorship is conceived and promoted by the Agnelli Foundation, led by John Elkann, in collaboration with the TOChina Hub at the University of Turin. Leaders from Beida and Cepirc signed the agreement with Elkann, establishing the terms of the position. It will begin in the spring of 2025, with a different professor for each academic semester. The first will be Romano Prodi, the former Prime Minister and President of the European Commission, who, even as a teacher, is well connected with China. "The professorship is a bridge", Elkann stated when he spoke, "that we are building together to foster dialogue between two countries and that through this aims to unite two worlds, two cultures, in a spirit of mutual collaboration". The promoters' intention is for the professorship to facilitate a closer relationship between the Italian culture and the students and instructors of the first Chinese university. "It will embrace every expression of Italian creativity, through all eras", said Elkann.