Chinese people’s friendly witness to Reform & Opening Up

The 77-year-old Franco Terenzi is the Former Captain Regent of the Republic of San Marino, a microstate in northern Italy, as well as the current President of the San Marino-China Friendship Association. The man who has visited China 58 times is an enthusiast of the country and has been devoted to friendly cooperation between China and San Marino for many years. For China’s reform and opening up, he is a star witness.

Franco Terenzi,“Chinese people’s friendly messenger”

58 visits to China to witness dramatic changes

Speaking of his first visit to China, he was deeply touched. "As early as the 1980s, I had the privilege of officially visiting China as the head of state of San Marino, and I met the then president Li Xiannian and Premier Li Peng. I saw that the Chinese people were enthusiastically involved in the cause of building the motherland."

Franco Terenzi (right), as the head of state of San Marino, visits China in 1988 and takes part in the welcoming ceremony held by the then president Li Xiannian.

It is this enthusiasm that has made today’s China totally different from that of the past after 40 years of reform and opening up.

"The speed of China's development and its changes are so magnificent that they are beyond words. But the general characteristics can be described.”