Italy and China The Italian Prime Minister signed a three-year economic cooperation agreement on Sunday. Giorgia Meloni He made the remarks after meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Meloni said his visit to Beijing, the first by an Italian prime minister, “demonstrates my willingness to resume bilateral cooperation and start a new stage.”
The leader of the right-wing populist Brothers of Italy party also said he wanted trade relations with China to be “fairer”, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
“Chinese investment in Italy accounts for about a third of Italian investment in China,” she said, adding that she hoped the gap would narrow.
Meloni then said the three-year agreement with China would also include cooperation in strategic areas such as: Electric car and Renewable energy.
In a statement issued by his office, Premier Li Keqiang said the two countries agreed to carry out “mutually beneficial cooperation” in the fields of “shipbuilding, aerospace, new energy and artificial intelligence.”
Italy’s withdrawal from Belt and Road will cause China to lose face
The move comes as fears of a trade war grow between Europe and China, with Italy seeking to re-establish ties with Beijing and following Italy’s withdrawal from a major Chinese infrastructure project. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) In December.
The BRI aims to facilitate trade ties between China and the rest of the world through road, rail, maritime transport, energy and digital infrastructure.
Italy was the only G7 country to sign the BRI in 2019, but it has received pressure from the United States and Brussels. A growing threat From the world’s second largest economy.
Chinese state media said Meloni’s visit was aimed at “clearing up some misunderstandings” about Italy’s withdrawal from the Belt and Road initiative.
In 2023, bilateral trade between Italy and China will reach 66.8 billion euros ($80 billion), a major advantage for China.
What else is Meloni doing in Beijing?
The Italian leader was attending the Italy-China Business Forum later on Sunday.
Meloni noted that renewable energy and electric vehicles are “areas where China has already been operating at the technological frontier for some time, sharing new knowledge frontiers with its partners.”
Participants at the forum included Italian tire maker Pirelli, energy group ENI, defense group Leonardo, wine producers and several Italian luxury fashion groups, including Dolce & Gabbana.
Premier Li also spoke at a business forum, pledging to further open up the Chinese market and create a more transparent business environment to ensure foreign companies receive equal treatment as Chinese companies.
“At the same time, we hope the Italian side will work with China to provide a more fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises doing business in Italy,” he said.
In May, Italian-American carmaker Stellantis, which owns Fiat, signed a joint venture deal with Chinese electric vehicle start-up LeapMotor, and Rome is keen to attract other Chinese automakers to the country.
At the same time, Rome is a new Provisional Tariffs The EU has accused Chinese automakers of dumping cheap electric cars on the continent, threatening tariffs of up to 37.6%.
Beijing retaliated Launch of the probe As well as interfering with trade practices for European brandy and pork, they could also target dairy products and large gasoline-powered vehicles made by European companies.
The two sides are in talks to resolve the issue before a deadline set for early November.
Meloni is also scheduled to meet with the Chinese president. Xi Jinping for a meeting on Monday.
mm/wd (AP, DPA, Reuters)
