A statement released this Monday on the official website of the Italian Foreign Ministry refers that in this contact, carried out at the headquarters of that organization, the positive results of the recent visit to China made by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, carried out from July 28 to 31, were discussed.
During her stay in Beijing, Meloni announced the launching of a three-year action plan to increase bilateral cooperation, “with the aim of strengthening the work already done and exploring new forms of collaboration, working towards the balance of trade relations.”
The Italian president considered that trade between her country and China, which reached 67 billion euros in 2023, has “great potential that has not yet been expressed.”
In the meeting held this Monday with the Chinese minister, Tajani discussed preparations for a trip to Beijing by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, with the aim of continuing actions aimed at expanding ties between the two nations, which, he said, “are going through an important phase of relaunch.”
The common objective is “to strengthen and update the Italy-China Global Strategic Partnership, which since 2004 has been the reference framework for the development of our relations,” he said.
“China is our first trading partner in Asia and the second among non-EU countries, after the United States,” he stressed, emphasizing Italy’s need for “fair access to the Chinese market and equal conditions for our companies.”
“It is precisely on this premise that we want to continue working with our Chinese partners to strengthen economic cooperation and rebalance trade between Rome and Beijing,” he added. During the talks, both officials discussed their respective countries’ positions on international issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, in particular the complex situation in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have already died due to Israeli attacks.
They also discussed the current crisis in the Red Sea, and in this regard the Italian foreign minister emphasized that Rome has sought Chinese cooperation to deal with the situation in that maritime zone, considering it to be “a crucial region for freedom of navigation and the security of exports.”
During the meeting, Tajani and Wang also exchanged views on other issues, including the protection of intellectual property, as well as increasing trade in the agri-food sector and investment, the source said.
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