Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has embarked on her first visit to Beijing since taking office, marking a significant diplomatic shift. During her five-day trip, Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a three-year plan aimed at revitalizing economic cooperation between the two nations.
This visit comes after Meloni’s decision last year to withdraw Italy from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a massive investment scheme spearheaded by President Xi Jinping. Rome had previously criticized the BRI for failing to deliver tangible benefits to Italy.
Meloni described the visit as a "demonstration of the will to begin a new phase" in bilateral relations. The newly signed agreement focuses on enhancing collaboration in electric vehicles and renewable energy. Premier Li emphasized plans to boost cooperation in shipbuilding, aerospace, new energy, and artificial intelligence.
Italy’s previous involvement in the BRI, which had been one of China’s flagship projects, was controversial and met with skepticism from Western allies, including the US. Meloni’s administration has since pivoted towards a more pro-Western and pro-NATO stance. Under her leadership, Italy has also blocked a Chinese state-owned company from acquiring the Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli and supported European tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.
The renewed engagement with China highlights Italy’s effort to recalibrate its relationship with one of the world's largest economies while balancing its Western alliances. In 2023, trade between Italy and China reached €66.8 billion, making China Italy’s largest non-EU trading partner after the US.
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