Formez inaugurates a Representation Office in Beijing. Interview with Mr Carlo Conte

30/01/2006 - 2006 is a crucial year for the relationship between Italy and the People’s Republic of China. On January 16th, Formez inaugurated a representation office in Beijing and signed a MOU with CNSA (Chinese National School of Administration). We interviewed Mr Carlo Conte, Deputy General Manager of Formez who signed the MOU , and discussed the content of the agreement with him. On this occasion, Mr Giulio Artegiani, Head of the International Relations Department of Formez, and Ms Vincenza Lo Monaco, Diplomatic Councillor for Mr Mario Baccini (Minister of Public Administration) were also members of the Italian delegation.
What is the content of the agreement?
The MOU foresees exchange of scientific cooperation and development through meetings, study visits, the preparation of reports and studies on specific subjects, analysis carried out by experts and scholars to be discussed during visits and conferences to universities and workshops on topics of common interest. In order to operate more efficiently, a Formez representative office was opened within CNSA in Beijing while a CNSA representation office has been established within the Department of International Relations of Formez in Rome for the management of this initiative.

How can project contents and activities be exchanged?
The agreement foresees the exchange of articles and material about Chinese and Italian public administrations as well as the dissemination of documentation resulting from exchange activities and cooperation. The contents may be transferred through an ad-hoc magazine on Chinese and Italian Public Administrations or through a dedicated website in three languages: Italian, English and Chinese.

Formez and CNSA share the same mission, such as training civil servants so that they can face the challenges of modernization and the increasing complexity of systems. What are dissimilarities and similarities between the two institutes?
Although CNSA was established earlier than Formez (CNSA was founded in 1987 and Formez in 1965), both institutes are directed to civil servants at central and local level. The activities contained in the agreement incorporate civil servants from the Chinese provinces into the entire central government system. Furthermore, CNSA like Formez, cooperates advantageously with professionals from universities.

Formez is gradually opening to Asia. What moves will the institute undertake eastwards in the near future?
Our interest in Asia was inevitable given that the continent is inhabited by three quarters of the world’s population. Asia is a giant, not only from the economic-financial and industrial point of view, but it also represents a huge potential in terms of public administration. We are already in touch with the Vietnamese School of Public Administration with the objective to sign a Memorandum of Understanding similar to the one signed with China. We have evaluated the conditions which will allow us to embark on an exchange of knowledge with the Indian School of Public Administration for a potential agreement. Our current presence in China like our forthcoming presence in other Asian countries, even more underlines the capacity of Formez to share and diffuse its know-how abroad.