In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto expresses himself quite clearly on Italy-China relations, particularly the "Belt and Road" initiative, a large project promoted by China that involves large investments in infrastructure all over the world (also known as the "New Silk Road"). Italy's participation in this initiative was decided by Giuseppe Conte's first government, which signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the Chinese government in 2019 amid much controversy. The agreement is automatically renewed in 2024, and in recent months it has become one of Giorgia Meloni's main foreign policy problems, because to leave it, she must send a written notice three months in advance, requiring her to make a decision by the end of the year. Meloni was openly critical of China and the "Belt and Road" initiative during the election campaign last year, but after being elected, she was more cautious and interlocutory. Crosetto, on the other hand, criticized the Conte government's decision in harsh terms: "The decision to join the Silk Road was an improvised and wicked act made by the government of Giuseppe Conte, which resulted in a double negative result. We shipped a load of oranges to China, and they tripled their exports to Italy in three years." According to Crosetto, other countries have increased their exports to China without signing any agreements. In fact, there has not been a significant economic return for Italy: in the last four years, Italian exports to China have increased slightly, from 13 billion euros to 16.4 billion euros. China's exports to Italy, on the other hand, increased significantly, from 31.7 billion euros to 57.5 billion euros. Furthermore, Italy's accession was a diplomatic victory for China, as it was the first time a G7 country had participated in a Chinese project.
|