Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, has recently visited China, marking her first trip since taking office. During this visit, she met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This visit is seen as a significant step in revitalising Italy’s relationship with China. The meeting was a chance to discuss important global issues and strengthen economic ties.
Strengthening Economic Cooperation
Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang met and signed a three-year plan to boost economic cooperation between Italy and China. This plan aims to enhance trade and investment between the two nations. Last year, Italy had pulled out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is a massive investment scheme designed to improve global trade routes. Italy’s expectations were not met by the BRI project, which made Rome to reconsider its participation. However, Meloni’s recent visit is intended to re-establish and strengthen the economic relationship.
Discussing Global Issues
During her visit, Meloni and President Xi talked about big global problems. They discussed the war happening in Ukraine, the chance of more conflicts in the Middle East, and the growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific area. They also talked about important issues like artificial intelligence, climate change, and how to make the UN Security Council better. Meloni stressed that working together is crucial to keep the world stable and peaceful.
China’s Vision for Future Relations
President Xi highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between Italy and China. He called for both countries to uphold the spirit of the Silk Road, which symbolizes East-West cooperation. Xi expressed a desire for a new era of mutual development and welcomed more Italian investments in China. He also indicated that China is eager to import more high-quality products from Italy.
The Impact of Italy’s BRI Withdrawal
Italy was the only major Western country to join China’s BRI. The decision was controversial and faced criticism from the US and other Western nations. Under Meloni’s leadership, Italy withdrew from the BRI, a move she had previously criticized as a mistake. She felt that being part of the BRI grouped Italy with countries like Russia and Sri Lanka, which did not align with Italy’s position as a G7 member.
Shifting Italy’s Foreign Policy
Since taking office in 2022, Meloni has steered Italy towards a more pro-Western and pro-Nato foreign policy. Her administration has taken steps to limit Chinese influence, such as blocking a Chinese state-owned company from acquiring the Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli. Italy has also supported the European Commission’s recent decision to impose tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
Current Trade Relations
Despite the changes in Italy’s foreign policy, trade between Italy and China remains strong. In the past year, two-way trade reached 66.8 billion euros (£56.3 billion), making China Italy’s largest non-EU trading partner after the US. This ongoing economic relationship highlights the importance of the ties between the two countries, even as they navigate complex global challenges.
Looking Forward
Meloni’s trip to China shows that Italy wants to keep a good relationship with Beijing while staying balanced. Even though Italy has changed its foreign policy to be more in line with Western countries, it still values its economic and diplomatic ties with China. As global tensions increase, both countries know they need to work together to handle shared problems and keep things stable.
In conclusion, Italy’s relationship with China is evolving. With new agreements and discussions on global issues, the two countries are working to strengthen their partnership. This visit marks a new chapter in their ongoing diplomatic and economic engagement.