Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has embarked on an official visit to China, aiming to “revitalise” Italy’s relations with the country after last year’s significant decision to withdraw from Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
During her five-day trip, Meloni met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, expressing a desire to initiate a “new phase” of bilateral cooperation following recent challenges.
In her address at the Italy-China business forum in Beijing, Meloni mentioned the necessity of creating a more balanced trade relationship, pointing out Italy’s significant trade deficit with China. She stressed the importance of improving market access and strengthening intellectual property protections to foster fair economic exchanges.
The two leaders signed a three-year “action plan” to boost industrial cooperation, alongside an agreement on food safety.
Yesterday, Meloni met with President Xi Jinping. “It’s necessary to reason together about how to also guarantee trade that continues to be free because to do so we need, above all, the system of rules in which we operate to remain stable,” said Meloni.
“So thank you for this opportunity. With this trip we are launching an action plan that we have signed with the (Chinese) government which defines the next three years of our bilateral cooperation with the clear aim of enhancing the work we have already done, but also of exploring new forms of cooperation working, at the same time, towards balancing trade relations”.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), China is willing to cooperate with Italy “to promote the optimisation and improvement of traditional cooperation in economic and commercial investments, in industrial production, in technological innovation and in third-party markets, as well as to explore cooperation in emerging areas like electric vehicles and artificial intelligence”, Chinese President Xi Jinping said.
Italy’s exit from Belt and Road Initiative last year
Meloni’s visit follows Italy’s decision to exit the BRI, a $1 trillion global infrastructure initiative Italy joined in 2019, despite concerns from the US and other Western allies. Meloni had previously criticised former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s decision to join the initiative, labelling it a “mistake.” Despite Rome’s careful and low-profile exit from the BRI, many Italian businesses remain concerned about potential repercussions from Beijing.
The Chinese Communist Party-affiliated Global Times suggested external pressures, particularly from the US and other Western powers, influenced Italy’s decision to leave the BRI, rather than a fundamental opposition to cooperation with China. As Beijing seeks to navigate its complex relationship with Europe, it hopes to exploit differences between European governments and the US on various issues, including trade and export controls.
During her trip, Meloni, who has historically been cautious of China, reiterated concerns over China’s trade practices and the potential risks of dependency on Chinese companies in critical supply chains. She stated the need for fair play in international markets, ensuring a level playing field for all businesses.
The visit coincides with the 700th anniversary of the death of Italian explorer Marco Polo and comes amid a year where bilateral trade reached €66.8 billion, predominantly in favour of China.
