By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has emphasized the significance of China as a key player in managing global tensions during her meeting with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. President Xi praised the longstanding friendly relations between Beijing and Rome, characterized by tolerance, mutual trust, and mutual respect.
During her first visit to China since assuming office, Ms. Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a three year plan to enhance economic cooperation. This five day visit follows Italy's withdrawal from President Xi's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year, a massive investment scheme aimed at promoting bilateral trade. Ms. Meloni described her visit as an effort to "relaunch" the relationship between the two nations.
After discussions with President Xi at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Ms. Meloni remarked on the growing international insecurity and highlighted China's role as an essential interlocutor in addressing these global dynamics. She emphasized the need for Italy and China to collaborate to maintain stability and ensure peace.
Italy was the only major Western country to join the BRI, a move that faced significant criticism from the US and other Western nations. Since taking office in 2022, Ms. Meloni has pursued a more pro Western and pro NATO foreign policy. She had previously criticized the decision to join the BRI as a "serious mistake," arguing that it placed Italy, a G7 member, in an unfavorable position compared to countries like Russia, Pakistan, or Sri Lanka. According to Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief economist for the Asia Pacific region at Natixis, without BRI membership, Meloni's engagement with China is more balanced, positioning Italy as a partner rather than a subordinate.
Under Ms. Meloni's leadership, Italy has also blocked a Chinese state owned company's attempt to take control of the tire manufacturer Pirelli. Additionally, Rome has supported the European Commission's recent decision to impose tariffs of up to 37.6% on electric vehicles imported from China.
Bilateral trade between Italy and China reached 66.8 billion euros (£56.3bn) last year, making China Italy's largest non EU trading partner after the US.
