Medical and Hospital News
TRADE WARS
No decision yet on quitting China's Belt and Road: Italy PM
No decision yet on quitting China's Belt and Road: Italy PM
by AFP Staff Writers
Rome (AFP) Sept 10, 2023

Italy has not yet decided whether to quit China's Belt and Road investment plan, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Sunday, but doing so would not damage bilateral relations.

"We have yet to make a decision," Meloni told a press conference at the close of the G20 summit in New Delhi, a day after meeting for talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Should Rome decide to quit, it "would not compromise relations" with China, Meloni said.

Critics say the Belt and Road plan is a Trojan horse to increase China's influence and Meloni is under pressure to exit, but hopes to do so without inflaming tensions.

The deal automatically renews in March 2024 unless Italy opts out by the end of this year.

Meloni said the government was "evaluating the merits" of being part of the trillion-dollar investment scheme, which debt-ridden Italy joined in 2019.

It is the only one of the group of leading developed democracies to have signed up.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said earlier this month that the Belt and Road initiative "has not produced the results we were hoping for".

The Italian PM is tipped to travel to Beijing for a state visit in the next few months, or at the start of next year, but would not be drawn on a possible date.

"It makes more sense to go to China when we have more elements about our bilateral cooperation and how to develop it," she said.

Meloni's meeting with Li, their first face-to-face, came as a broad alliance of states at the G20 unveiled ambitious plans to create a modern-day Spice Route linking Europe, the Middle East and India, which signatories hope will offer a counterbalance to lavish Chinese infrastructure spending.

Some analysts expect Meloni to pull out of Belt and Road while boosting other existing Italy-China accords.

The meeting with Li Saturday "confirmed the common intention to consolidate and deepen the dialogue between Rome and Beijing on the main bilateral and international issues," Meloni's office said in a statement.

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of a global strategic partnership between the two countries which "will constitute the beacon for the advancement of friendship and collaboration," it said.

Related Links
Global Trade News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
TRADE WARS
US trade chief: Talking to China is no 'sign of weakness'
Washington (AFP) Sept 3, 2023
Holding talks with Beijing officials is not a sign of weakness by Washington, the US commerce secretary said Sunday, adding that not talking can lead to greater tensions and misunderstanding. "It's in the US interest. It's in China's interest. Indeed, it's in the world's interest for the US and China to have a stable and significant commercial relationship," Secretary Gina Raimondo told CNN's "State of the Union," days after returning from Beijing. "I do not accept the premise that talking and c ... read more

TRADE WARS
Fukushima wastewater release spawns misinformation

First phase of Fukushima water release to end Monday

Iran pilgrims among 18 dead in Iraq crash

Go with the flow -- or flee: Burners split over mud tactics

TRADE WARS
Present and future of satellite navigation

New Galileo station goes on duty

Potential earthquake precursor discovered through GPS measurements

Northrop Grumman's new airborne navigation system achieves successful flight test

TRADE WARS
New ancient ape from Turkiye challenges the story of human origins

ALS patient pioneering brain-computer connection

The race to link our brains to computers is hotting up

Just 5000 steps can save your life

TRADE WARS
Belgium struggles with spread of 'invasive' raccoons

Cute but calamitous: Australia labours under rabbit numbers

S.African rhino farm, world's largest, bought by NGO: statement

EU chief warns wolf packs 'real danger' in Europe

TRADE WARS
Pharma firm, labs share tech for Covid research equity: WHO

US widens blacklist of firms over Uyghur forced labor concerns

Ancient pathogens emerging from melting ice and permafrost risk eroding ecosystems

Croatia targets latest climate-change threat: mosquitoes

TRADE WARS
Chinese flock to Mongolia hoping for papal visit of their own

UK foreign secretary to visit China on Wednesday

Australian academic fears death in China jail

Hong Kong language group closes after post accused of breaching security law

TRADE WARS
Report faults British government for 'dismal understanding' of Wagner threat

China tells Myanmar junta to 'root out' online scam groups

TRADE WARS
Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.