Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has arrived in Beijing for her first official visit to China since taking office nearly two years ago. The visit, which began on July 27, is scheduled to last for five days. During her time in Beijing, Meloni is expected to meet with key Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
The main goals of Meloni’s visit are to strengthen trade relations between Italy and China and to discuss major international issues, with a particular focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine. This visit comes at a time when Italy and China are looking to reset their relationship and explore new areas of cooperation.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Meloni had criticized Italy’s previous involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI is a major Chinese project aimed at enhancing global trade and infrastructure links, but Meloni has called Italy’s participation in it a “mistake.” Last year, her government decided to withdraw from the initiative, making Italy the only member of the G7 to exit the project.
The BRI involved a non-binding agreement between Italy and China, which outlined potential cooperation in areas like logistics, infrastructure, finance, and the environment. However, there were concerns about the lack of transparency and detailed information, leading to unease among Italy’s international allies.
During her visit, Meloni will be working to relaunch and expand cooperation in sectors that both nations find beneficial. The discussions will also address broader international issues, with the war in Ukraine being a prominent topic. Meloni’s trip aims to build a stronger partnership between Italy and China while navigating the complex global landscape.
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