China and Italy on Friday signed 16 cooperation documents and business contracts worth 3.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi attended the signing ceremony after their official talks.

China's Ministry of Science and Technology signed a memorandum of understanding with the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research on major scientific research cooperation. It also signed a framework document with Italy's Tuscany regional government for supporting cooperation on regional innovation.

China Development Bank, China National Petroleum Cooperation, Huawei, Guangzhou Auto and other Chinese companies and organizations signed 14 business cooperation contracts with Italian companies covering a wide range of areas, including telecom, medicine, finance, automobile and new energy.

Xi is on an official visit to Italy as the guest of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.