SHANGHAI, June 29 -- The bilateral trade volume between China and Italy saw a solid increase in the first four months of 2017, according to Italian Trade Commission Shanghai office.

The trade volume reached 14.3 billion U.S. dollars during the period, an increase of 7.12 percent year on year, with imports volume hitting 5.6 billion dollars and exports at 8.6 billion dollars.

"Machinery is one of the main exports from Italy to China," said Claudio Pasqualucci, Italian Trade Commissioner for Shanghai at the Italian Technology Exhibition.

The Sino-Italy trade volume will continue to grow especially under the "Belt and Road Initiative," said Pasqualucci.

"China and European countries will cooperate more in the future, which has brought Italian manufacturing companies greater opportunities," said Pasqualucci.

The Italian Technology Exhibition was held in Shanghai on Wednesday and Thursday. A total of 26 Italian companies attended the exhibition.