Italy welcomes Chinese investors and its embassy in China will do all it can to direct and help more Chinese companies find business opportunities in the country, Italian Ambassador to China Attilio Massimo Iannucci said in Shanghai.

"We welcome all kinds of Chinese companies to invest in Italy," Iannucci said in an exclusive interview with Shanghai Daily this week.

He said big Chinese infrastructure and electronic companies may, in turn, also help smaller Italian firms to come to China, which would boost bilateral investment.

Italy is an economy mainly driven by small- and medium-sized enterprises, especially in its northern part.

"These enterprises, which are keen to expand into China, are unable to come here alone," Iannucci said, without elaborating.

Some Chinese companies, such as Huawei Technologies Co, have grown rapidly after doing business in Italy for several years. Their success has encouraged Italian companies to explore opportunities in China.

"With the Chinese government pledging to improve people's lives in the next five years, we have much to offer," he said.