On October 19 local time, ICBC announced the establishment of Rome Branch in Italy. Rome Branch is the second operating institution established by ICBC in Italy following Milan Branch, indicating a new development stage of ICBC in Italy and South Europe. So far, ICBC has established branches in 17 major cities in Europe, namely Luxembourg, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Milan, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw and Lisbon, forming a complete business network which has significantly enhanced its service capability in Europe.

According to Mr. Jiang Jianqing, Chairman of ICBC at the opening ceremony of Rome Branch, the close and stable economic and trade ties and the extensive, multi-tiered cooperation between China and Italy have created a positive environment for ICBC to serve Chinese and Italian customers and promote economic and trade exchanges between China and Italy. Since its entry into Italy in 2011, ICBC has  been dedicated to promoting economic and trade exchanges between China and Italy as well as Italy’s economic development, and has delivered outstanding achievements. After its opening, Rome Branch will provide high-quality financial services for the enterprises and financial institutions involved in the economic and trade exchange between China and Italy based on the ICBC Group’s funding, network and technology advantages.

Italy has a time-honored economic relationship with China as one of the first European countries to trade with China. Italy is China’s third largest technology import source, fifth largest trading partner and fifth largest foreign direct investment source in the EU, while China is Italy’s largest trading partner in Asia. The economic and trade exchange between China and Italy is highly complementary and the two countries have huge potential in cooperation over manufacturing and creativity industry.

ICBC has been actively adapted to the customers' diversified financial service demand and followed up on China's foreign trade and investment in recent years to enhance its overseas layout. So far, ICBC's overseas network has covered 42 countries and territories worldwide, making it the largest Chinese financial institution by the coverage of global network. In addition, ICBC has indirectly extended its network coverage to 20 African countries through equity participation in Standard Bank of South Africa and set up a service network across Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, America and Australia, which significantly enhanced its global service capability.