Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Chinese President Xi Jinping convened in Beijing on Monday to address pressing international issues, including the war in Ukraine and the escalating crisis in the Middle East. The meeting, held at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, underscored the importance of China as a strategic partner for Italy, particularly as the nation grapples with rising global insecurity.
During their discussions, Meloni emphasized the critical role China plays in navigating the complexities of international relations. "There is growing insecurity at the international level, and I think that China is inevitably a very important interlocutor to deal with all these dynamics," Meloni stated. This sentiment was echoed by Xi, who highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries and their mutual commitment to maintaining peace and stability.
The dialogue also touched on the growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, a reflection of the increasingly multifaceted challenges that both nations face. Meloni's office released a statement noting that the leaders addressed "priority issues on the international agenda from the war in Ukraine to the risks of a further escalation of the situation in the Middle East."
This visit marks Meloni's first trip to China since taking office and comes on the heels of Italy's departure from China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year. Despite this, both nations have expressed a renewed commitment to strengthening their economic ties. On Sunday, Meloni and Chinese Premier Li Qiang signed a three-year plan aimed at bolstering economic cooperation, signaling a clear intent to foster a robust bilateral relationship.
Xi stressed the importance of continued collaboration, stating, "Both sides face important opportunities for mutual development. China and Italy should uphold the spirit of the Silk Road ... so that the bridge of communication between East and West through it can rebound into a new era." This sentiment was underscored by the recent signing of the three-year action plan, which aims to enhance economic ties between the two nations.
The Italian Prime Minister's visit to Beijing is seen as an effort to "relaunch" the relationship between the two countries. Meloni's focus is on ensuring that trade relations are balanced, a concern that has grown amid increasing protectionist measures within the European Union. "I think that Italy can also play an important role in relations with the European Union and here too the attempts to create trade relations that are as balanced as possible," she remarked.
The meeting also took place against the backdrop of recent European Commission decisions to impose preliminary tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, a move that has heightened tensions between Brussels and Beijing. Chinese officials have warned of a potential trade war if these measures are not reconsidered.
Italy's strategic importance to China was also highlighted during the discussions. Italy was the only member of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies to join the BRI, a move that had previously drawn criticism from the U.S. and other Western nations. Despite Italy's withdrawal from the BRI, Rome has signaled its ongoing desire to forge stronger trade ties with Beijing.
