The European diplomat’s agenda was focused on relaunching trade ties with Beijing, despite recent reports about the possible departure of Rome next December from the Belt and Road Initiative (IFR), the most important interconnection project of the Asian giant. .
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged sticking to the correct path of getting along with each other, characterized by mutual respect and trust, openness, cooperation and equal dialogue.
Likewise, the Asian foreign minister stressed that the foregoing acquires greater importance in the midst of geopolitical challenges and disturbances.
Beijing is willing to “strengthen high-level exchanges, consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, expand practical cooperation, enrich people-to-people exchanges, and push for the sustained, solid and stable development of relations,” Wang added.
Tajani highlighted Italy’s desire to strengthen ties with China, noting that no matter how volatile the international situation is, these ties will not be affected.
For some Chinese experts, the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wants to use the IFR’s withdrawal as proof of its return to traditional Western politics.
“Clearly, there is significant political influence and pressure from the United States and other Western countries,” said Cui Hongijan, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies.
For his part, Wang Yimei, from Renmin University’s Institute for International Affairs, considered that the impacts of Rome’s departure from the megaproject will not represent a fundamental setback for bilateral relations.
On the subject, the Italian foreign minister emphasized here that whatever the decision, it “will not jeopardize the excellent relations we have with China, the memorandum is only part of what we have, there is a strategic partnership and we need to revitalize it.”
Tajani began an official visit last Sunday that saw him co-chair the 11th China-Italy Intergovernmental Committee Meeting with Wang Yi the day before and visit places of cultural interest.
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