2024-07-26 23:21:22
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is arriving in China today for an official five-day visit, which will last until July 31, the spokesman of the Asian country’s foreign ministry, Mao Ning, announced today, quoted by France Press and RAI News TV.
It is Meloni’s first visit to the Asian country since taking power in 2022.
“Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will pay an official visit to China from July 27 to 31,” Mao Ning said in a communique.
Georgia Meloni will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, the spokeswoman said at her regular press conference.
This visit will allow “to deepen practical cooperation and cultural exchange” and “promote the stable and long-term development of Sino-Italian and Sino-European relations”, Mao Ning stressed.
Italian tire maker Pirelli, energy giant Eni, arms company Leonardo and some Italian luxury goods companies including Dolce & Gabbana are among those invited. to participate in the Italian-Chinese Business Forum, which will be held in Beijing on Sunday (July 28) and Monday (July 29), reports Reuters.
In 2019, Italy became the only G7 country to join China’s trade and infrastructure project known as “One Belt, One Road”, but withdrew from it last year under US pressure over concerns about increasing Beijing’s economic power.
Meloni’s government has said the deal does not benefit Italy, whose annual trade with China is worth 73.9 billion euros ($80.13 billion), according to the latest figures.