Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visits China to repair relations after Italy withdrew from the Belt and Road Initiative. Despite criticism of BRI, Italy aims to boost trade with China.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to visit China from Friday to Tuesday in an effort to mend the rift caused by Rome’s withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year. During her trip, Meloni will engage in discussions with key Chinese leaders such as President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman Zhao Leji. The visit is seen as a step towards repairing relations damaged when Italy was the first country to withdraw from the BRI since its inception in 2013.
Despite Meloni’s criticism of the BRI, which she has referred to as a “serious mistake,” Italy remains China’s fourth-largest trading partner in the EU. Bilateral trade between Italy and China stands at $80 billion, with Italian exports to China reaching nearly $18 billion in 2022. The withdrawal from the BRI, influenced by pressure from major Western powers, was viewed as a setback for China’s global ambitions.
Italian government’s exit from the BRI has sparked discussions on how to balance Italy’s concerns about Chinese market distortions and support for Russia’s war on Ukraine with the need to attract Chinese investments, particularly in emerging technologies like electric vehicles. Despite leaving the BRI, Italy aims to maintain dialogue with Beijing, navigating a delicate path of ‘equidistance’ between the US and China. The evolving dynamics between Beijing and Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine have added complexity to countries like Italy seeking to strengthen ties with China.
Source : Italy’s prime minister heads to China to repair rift
