Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Visits China to Strengthen Ties
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, on her first official visit to Beijing since becoming PM in 2022, announced a three-year action plan to enhance cooperation with China. This visit follows Italy’s withdrawal from China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) last year.
Meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang
Meloni met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on July 28, where they signed agreements to boost collaboration in trade, investment, education, environmental protection, and food security. Meloni described the Memorandum of Industrial Cooperation as a significant step, highlighting sectors like electric mobility and renewables.
7th China Italy Business Forum
Meloni also addressed the 7th China Italy Business Forum in Beijing, calling it a great opportunity to strengthen the partnership. She noted the trade imbalance between the two countries, with Chinese investment in Italy being about a third of Italian investments in China. Meloni expressed a desire to narrow this gap.
Future Plans
Italy’s decision not to renew the 2019 memorandum of understanding for the BRI was formally announced on December 6, 2023. Italian President Sergio Mattarella plans to visit China in October, aiming to repair relations. Italy is China’s fourth-largest trading partner in the EU, with bilateral trade reaching USD 80 billion.
Doubts Revealed
Italian Prime Minister -: The Prime Minister is the leader of the government in Italy, similar to the Prime Minister of India.
Giorgia Meloni -: Giorgia Meloni is the current Prime Minister of Italy. She became the Prime Minister in 2022.
Beijing -: Beijing is the capital city of China, just like New Delhi is the capital of India.
Three-year action plan -: This is a plan that Italy and China will follow for three years to work together better in different areas.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang -: Li Qiang is a high-ranking official in China, similar to the Prime Minister in India.
Trade -: Trade means buying and selling goods and services between countries.
Education -: Education refers to learning and teaching, like what happens in schools and colleges.
Environmental protection -: This means taking care of the environment, like reducing pollution and saving trees.
Belt and Road Initiative -: This is a big project by China to build roads, railways, and other infrastructure in many countries to improve trade.
7th China Italy Business Forum -: This is a meeting where business people from China and Italy talk about working together and making deals.
