In November… President Sergio Mattarella will travel to China following earlier visits by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Business Minister Adolfo Urso.
- A key aim of these meetings is to move beyond Italy’s involvement in the BRI and refocus on the strategic partnership established two decades ago.
China’s economic courtship. Ahead of Mattarella’s visit, China’s ambassador to Italy, Jia Guide, penned an op-ed for Italian newspapers Il Messaggero and Il Mattino, extolling China’s economic potential for Italian businesses.
- The ambassador highlighted China’s forthcoming law to support private enterprise, designed to create a stable, transparent, and fair environment for investors, including Italian firms operating in China.
- He also stressed that China’s recent policies not only aim to stimulate economic growth but also address concerns raised by foreign businesses.
- These policies, he explained, would strongly support the development of China’s real economy and foster high-quality, innovative production.
SMEs in the spotlight. Foreign Minister Tajani recently met with China’s Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, reaffirming Italy’s commitment to cooperate on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
- This collaboration will be reinforced during President Mattarella’s visit, which Tajani will also attend, as Italy seeks to strengthen economic ties outside of the BRI framework.
Unresolved issues. Despite ongoing economic talks, several major geopolitical concerns remain.
- These include China’s military alliance with Russia, its stance on Taiwan, and its involvement with the Houthi rebels, who are destabilising the Indo-Mediterranean region.
- These challenges could complicate diplomatic discussions during Mattarella’s visit to Beijing.
Mixed signals from Italy. Italy’s approach to China appears inconsistent, with various government figures sending conflicting messages.
- Last week, Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè represented the government at a gala hosted by China Media Group.
- Meanwhile, Tajani backed European tariffs on Chinese cars, contrasting with Urso’s efforts to attract Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers to Italy.
- Additionally, a cooperation agreement between Italy’s Ministry of Business and China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology resulted in several memoranda of understanding between companies from both nations, focusing on strategic sectors like green technology.
