Rome, 9 November 2024 – Of travel the head of state obviously makes many international ones. What makes the official visit of these days particularly important is both the destination and the Chinathat the moment: the suspension phase waiting to understand what the next president of the United States will do. Mattarella’s intention to involve Beijing in the search for a new balance on the two fronts made more crucial by the unknown Donald appears clear: the war, especially the one in Ukraine, and the duties. As “friends do,” he is blunt: “China is one of the fundamental protagonists of international life”. For this reason “he must make use of his great authority by working to put an end to the brutal Russian aggression on the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine to achieve a just peace”.
to cousin view are topics that he has already dealt with several times, but the underlying request is that Beijing detaches itself from Moscow to play a role of pacification: “It is unthinkable that a permanent member of the UN Security Council violates, as Russia has done, the rules of international law by using force against its neighbor.” The same mediation hopes for the Middle East: “I trust that China will want to add its voice to stop the spiral of violence”. From the series: the country of the Dragon calls for a multilateral scheme on the international chessboard, enter the game. Also recognizing the need to “maintain free and safe naval transit” in the Red Sea.
President Sergio Mattarella (center) with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping
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Afterwards at the changing of the guard in Washington, the possibility of one total victory for Putin and a worsening of the Middle Eastern conflict is the first alarm. But global financial stability is second. One of the main objectives of the trip is to lay the foundations for a new articulation of trade relations between the two countries after the exit from the Silk Road Memorandum, following American pressure. China and Italy are united by a thousand-year-old culture that has Marco Polo as the red thread of which both countries are proud: this is why Mattarella chooses the opportunity offered by Master’s lesson at Beida University in Beijing to relaunch the burning issue of tariffs. “It is time for China to remove the barriers that hinder access to the Chinese market for excellent Italian products”, underlines fresh from the inauguration of the chair of Italian studies, financed by the Agnelli foundation and entrusted as first holder to Romano Prodi, present in the room packed with teachers and students together with John Elkann and Pier Ferdinando Casini, honorary president of the China-Italy philanthropic forum. His target? Slow down the flow of trade. In 2022 the interchange was equal to 73.9 billion euros but Italian exports to China only reached 16.4 billion while imports were more than triple. Thus, a few hours earlier he recommended to Prime Minister Li Qiang: “There is a need for a rebalancing in the development of import-export trade relations”. A theme at the center of Friday’s conversation with President Xi Jinping. “Full harmony and convergent assessments with him,” he assures the president of the People’s Assembly, Zhao Leji.
The worry per the Trump unknown it resurfaces when Mattarella mentions the threat of a return to protectionism: “Nobody wants a new season of protectionism in Europe”. Open markets, he comments, “are an antidote to war”. This time the interests of all of Europe are at stake. The head of state aims to build relationships that allow China to be a strong economic partner of the EU, a need that is even more urgent in the face of possible American neo-protectionism, preventing the battle over electric cars from spilling over into other sectors.
It’s about of one all-round diplomatic mission, it is no coincidence that he is supported by the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani. However, there is an obstacle, and Mattarella does not close his eyes: the civil rights situation. “There are complex issues, which concern us all. Among these is the protection and promotion of the dignity of every person.” The visit will continue until Tuesday, but the essential part has concluded. With full satisfaction, at least on the surface: the Chinese speak of a new “historical phase”. But whether the discussions of these days turn into concrete actions, or rather into commercial exchanges, remains to be seen.
