CERNOBIL, Italy (Reuters) – Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday that the relationship between Italy and China has grown since Rome joined Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative four years ago. Trade conditions have not improved as expected.
In 2019, under the previous government, Italy became the first major Western country to join China’s infrastructure initiative, the Belt and Road Initiative, despite protests from the United States.
Tajani is about to visit China from the 3rd to the 5th. Before his trip, he pointed out at the “European House-Ambrosetti” (The European House-Ambrosetti) forum: “The Silk Road (Belt and Road) has not brought us expected outcome. We will have to evaluate and Congress will have to decide whether to continue to engage.”
It is generally believed that the Roman authorities are extremely unlikely to renew the Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative will expire in March next year, and Italy must formally withdraw by December this year, otherwise the validity period will be automatically extended for five years.
Tajani said he will leave for Beijing in the afternoon for a three-day diplomatic visit. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she plans to visit China on her next trip abroad. Central News Agency (Translation)
Italian Foreign Minister: China’s Belt and Road Initiative is not as good as expected
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2023-09-02 12:27:35
