Beijing · CIFTIS 2026 · Colorful World
From local identity to international cooperation
Getting to know one another, exchanging experience and building trust while preserving differences: this is the message of Michele De Gasperis’s interview in Beijing at Colorful World, a thematic event within CIFTIS 2026.
The interview follows his speech Making Rural Destinations Global, in which De Gasperis proposed a partnership network between Italian and Chinese territories, connecting tourism, local economies and communities.
Trust as a starting point
In the interview, De Gasperis identifies trust as the central value of the encounter: getting to know one another, growing closer and exchanging experience while remaining different. People-to-people relations and cultural dialogue are presented as foundations of cooperation that extends beyond economic projects and infrastructure.
Making local identity sustainable
Making Rural Destinations Global applies this principle to local territories. Restoring buildings and attracting visitors matter, but are not enough. Development must support local businesses, maintain services, preserve traditional skills and offer young people a future. Tourism can contribute when connected with agriculture, crafts, culture, education and the social economy. Social economy districts are presented as collaborative local systems that can keep more economic and social value within communities.
From destinations to partnerships
The China–Italy Rural Destinations Partnership Network is a proposal to explore through a first group of pilot partnerships. Historic routes, villages, Italian borghi and mountain destinations could cooperate across tourism, local economies and communities: new travel experiences, projects among businesses and artisans, school and youth exchanges, and shared expertise in heritage protection.
A shared path to explore
In the speech, dialogue with Mentougou District provides a concrete starting point, while CIFTIS is proposed as a possible annual meeting point to review results and develop partnerships. The Italian OBOR Institute expresses its readiness to explore this path with Beijing partners and interested Italian territories. The network is a proposal, not an already established organisation. In the interview, De Gasperis also expresses the hope for broader future Italian participation in Colorful World.
The aim is to bring local territories into the world while keeping their identity alive and creating opportunities for their residents.
Read the full speech - PDF in English ↓