On January 8^th 2020, the World Chilli Alliance (WCA) and the Italian Chili Pepper Accademy jointly hosted the "Chilli Pepper along One Belt One Road" Forum (with the original title of "Diamante in the World - Il Peperoncino sulla via della della seta").

Alessandro Maturo, Head Office Representative of WCA, attended the event together with Enzo Monaco, President for Europe of WCA and President of the Italian Chili Pepper Academy, Marina Sereni, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, and Senator Ernesto Magorno, Mayor of Diamante City, gathering many national and local media and journalists who reported the event.

(First from left) Senator Ernesto Magorno, mayor of Diamante and Member of the Italian Parliament

(Second from left) Marina Sereni, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic

(First from right) Enzo Monaco, President for Europe of the World Chilli Alliance and President of the Italian Chili Pepper Academy

(Second from right) Alessandro Maturo, Head Office Representative of the World Chilli Alliance

At the forum, Alessandro Maturo on behalf of the World Chilli Alliance delivered a speech introducing the development of WCA, the achievements accomplished by the association in 2019 and the projects and plans to be carried out in 2020.

Since its foundation, the World Chilli Alliance (WCA) has been committed to promoting the global chilli pepper culture, fostering sustainable interactions of biodiversity, traditions, technologies and usages related to chilli pepper, with the aim of encouraging friendly exchanges among people from all over the world.

Alessandro also highlighted that 2020 is the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and Italy. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1970, bilateral relations between Italy and China have been renewed for each year, and cooperation and exchanges between the two countries have become increasingly close and important, with outstanding achievements accomplished in the fields of culture and tourism. On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Italy and China, the executive headquarters of the World Chilli Alliance and the World Chilli Museum will be officially settled in Chongqing (China) and the first edition of the World Chilli Festival will be also held in Chongqing, following the publication of the book "Red Hot China" written by Gerald Zhang-Schmidt, Science Specialist of the World Chilli Alliance.

The Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic, Marina Sereni, expressed her interest in the projects and initiatives launched by the World Chilli Alliance, affirming the important role of the association in promoting cultural exchanges in the world and expressing her hope to come to Chongqing.

Marina Sereni also mentioned the close contacts between Italy and China remembering how, more than 2000 years ago, the ancient "Silk Road" connected China and Ancient Rome, which are thousands of miles away each other. This road has always connected Eastern and Western civilizations and the "Silk Road" has become an important link between Italy and China. In March 2019, a memorandum of of understanding was jointly signed by Italy and China to further deepen the friendship between the two countries.

The forum on chilli pepper in Diamante was held in the wake oft he spirit of "Belt and Road" Initiative, opening up a new path fostering friendly relations among countries.