Italy’s Meloni commits to boosting cooperation with China

July 28 – Italy’s Meloni commits to boosting cooperation with China during her visit to Beijing enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang conducted talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Beijing on Sunday, with both sides vowing to promote pragmatic cooperation.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni committed to revitalizing cooperation with China by signing a three-year action plan during her first official visit to Beijing since taking office. This trip, marking her government’s new phase in bilateral relations, comes as Italy seeks to enhance trade ties with China following its exit from President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative last year.

Meloni, leading a right-leaning government since 2022, emphasized the action plan’s goal of exploring new cooperative avenues. During her visit, she highlighted an industrial cooperation memorandum between Italy and China covering strategic sectors like electric mobility and renewable energy.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang noted potential cooperation areas including shipbuilding, aerospace, new energy, and artificial intelligence.

Meloni’s agenda includes meetings with President Xi and top legislator Zhao Leji, as well as participating in a business forum with major Italian and Chinese companies.

The forum, featuring firms such as Pirelli, ENI, and Dolce & Gabbana, aimed to signal a balanced commercial exchange and mutual interest. The forum gives “another signal of the mutual interest … (to) balance more our interests, our commercial exchange,” she said.

In 2019, Italy joined the Belt and Road Initiative but withdrew last year due to U.S. pressure and perceived lack of benefits. China remains Italy’s largest non-EU trading partner after the U.S., with trade in 2023 reaching €66.8 billion ($80 billion), heavily favoring Beijing.

The Italian government is in discussions with Chinese automakers to attract another major manufacturer to Italy, aiming to expand beyond the current presence of Stellantis.

At the Business Forum, Meloni advocated for sharing knowledge in electric mobility and renewables and discussed framework agreements on geographical indications, food safety, environment, and education.

During the meeting, an Action Plan for the Global Strategic Partnership (2024-2027) was adopted, alongside six agreements covering industrial collaboration, geographical indications, food security, the environment, and education.

Italian foreign direct investment in China amounts to €15 billion, with over 1,600 Italian companies active in sectors like textiles, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, energy, and heavy industries.

Italy backed the European Commission’s decision to impose provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on Chinese electric vehicles, prompting Beijing to retaliate with investigations into European brandy and pork.

G7 members, including Italy, recently pledged to continue shielding their businesses from what they view as unfair Chinese trade practices.

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