The Milan Expo 2015 is a precious opportunity to build a better dialogue between local Chinese and other citizens, the representative of the Chinese community in Milan, Angelo Ou, told Xinhua in an interview Friday.

Milan's Chinese community is one of the most important ones in Europe. Nowadays it is composed of some 13,500 regular residents, about 20 percent of the Chinese living in Italy.

It is a very particular neighborhood located around Paolo Sarpi street, in the historical district of the city.

"According to statistics, the number of Chinese students in Milan is growing rapidly. They are gaining excellent academic results at top universities like Bocconi and Politecnico. I wish young generations will build a bridge between the Chinese community and the municipality of Milan," Ou said.

"It's important to remember that the theme of Expo 2015 will be 'Feed the Planet, Energy for Life,' which aims to promote a cosmopolitan Milan," he said.

Nevertheless, Ou emphasized that communication between the Chinatown area in Milan and the municipality could be better.

In April 2007, the detention of a Chinese woman after a parking dispute with the police sparked protests among local Chinese, leading to a clash between hundreds of Chinese and local police.

"It is obvious that immigrants have problems, but it is well known that Chinese merchants are hard workers," Ou said.

"Local Chinese have already made some significant steps to protect their legitimate rights in accordance with the law, so Milan authorities should strengthen communication with them and take their traditions and cultural background into consideration," he explained.

Ou said the Chinese community is unhappy with the project to transform the entire Paolo Sarpi street into a pedestrian zone by 2011 because this would hamper their commercial activities.

But the community is going to try its best to adapt by converting some shops into bars and restaurants.

Actually, the Chinese community has always shown its willing to adapt to Milan's evolution. The first settlement in Paolo Sarpi street was established in the early 1920s. The majority of Chinese came from eastern Zhejiang province and made silk products.

In the 1980s, the large Chinese immigrant population diversified the community, opening market stores, food stores and later hairdressing salons and fashion boutiques. Currently, there are only a few non-Chinese shops in the street.

In fact, culture is playing an important role in boosting mutual understanding.

Now for the first time, Milan's Palestrina cinema is showing a documentary which features a multiracial Milan. The city is not only introduced as a fashion and design capital, but also as an integration-friendly city where immigrants can realize their dreams.

The documentary, named "Giallo a Milano" (Made in Chinatown) and directed by Sergio Basso, introduces Chinese culture by telling the stories of eight Chinese immigrants.