Global Courant
BEIJING — A senior Chinese diplomat said he believes Italy remains behind the concept of President Xi Jinping’s signature global investment initiative, even as the European nation considers leaving the controversial pact.
“Personally, I think Italy is generally in agreement with the concept of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the possible outcome it could bring, and also with promoting cooperation along the BRI,” said Mr. Liu Jianchao, director of the Communist Party. Party of China International Section.
“They just have some considerations to extend the agreement.”
Mr Liu made the remarks after returning from a trip to Italy last week, where he met with politicians, lawmakers and think tanks, in an attempt to convince the country to stick with Mr Xi’s global flagship. He told a group of businessmen in Rome that it was the “right decision” for the two countries to sign for the BRI.
Italy signed China’s huge BRI in 2019, when Mr Giuseppe Conte was Prime Minister, becoming the only country of the Group of Seven to join the pact. The current leader, Ms. Giorgia Meloni, is in favor of leaving the infrastructure initiative, Bloomberg reported in May.
Participation will automatically renew in 2024 unless Rome exits the agreement.
“Of course, we hope that Italy can extend the agreement, but in the meantime, I also think that cooperation between China and Italy can be established in different ways,” Mr. Liu told Bloomberg on the sidelines of a peace forum organized by Tsinghua University. in Beijing on Sunday.
His comments seem more measured than those of China’s ambassador to Rome, who warned in an interview with Italian news outlet Fanpage that there would be “negative consequences” if Rome “recklessly decides” to withdraw.
Ms Meloni told lawmakers on Wednesday that Italy can have excellent relations with China even without being part of the initiative.
“Evaluations are ongoing,” she said. “The issue must be handled carefully and respectfully, involving Parliament.”
